Featured Stories
Manhattan Institute Issues Commentary to Daily Wire: Are Defenders Bending the Transgender Numbers?
NEW YORK, June 30 -- The Manhattan Institute issued the following excerpts of a commentary on June 28, 2026, by fellow Colin Wright to the Daily Wire:
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Are Defenders Bending the Transgender Numbers?
A new Oregon study should raise concerns about the prevalence of transitioning minors.
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For years, we were told not to worry about pediatric gender medicine because it was vanishingly rare. Puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, we were assured, were reserved for a tiny number of carefully assessed children with severe and persistent distress.
But when new data show that these treatments
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, June 30 -- The Manhattan Institute issued the following excerpts of a commentary on June 28, 2026, by fellow Colin Wright to the Daily Wire:
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Are Defenders Bending the Transgender Numbers?
A new Oregon study should raise concerns about the prevalence of transitioning minors.
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For years, we were told not to worry about pediatric gender medicine because it was vanishingly rare. Puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, we were assured, were reserved for a tiny number of carefully assessed children with severe and persistent distress.
But when new data show that these treatmentsaren't so rare, the same defenders suddenly change their tune: the numbers are no longer reassuring because they are small; now they are reassuring because they are large.
More children receiving medical transition means that a previously hidden population finally feels safe enough to pursue the care it has always needed.
Higher cross-sex identity persistence after social transition or administering puberty blockers means the interventions were obviously appropriate.
Continue reading the entire piece here at the Daily Wire (https://www.dailywire.com/news/are-defenders-bending-the-transgender-numbers)
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Colin Wright is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute. This piece is adapted from City Journal.
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Original text here: https://manhattan.institute/article/are-defenders-bending-the-transgender-numbers
[Category: ThinkTank]
Ifo Institute: Fuel Discount in Germany Not Passed On in Full
MUNICH, Germany, June 30 -- ifo Institute issued the following news release on June 29, 2026:
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Fuel Discount in Germany Not Passed On in Full
The fuel discount has largely reached motorists, but not in full. That's according to calculations in the ifo Fuel Discount Tracker. These showed that prices in Germany for Super E5 were 17 cents lower, for Super E10 16 cents lower, and for diesel 12 cents lower than comparable prices at foreign filling stations without a fuel discount (as of June 26).
"The fuel discount for supergrade gasoline was therefore passed on to motorists almost in full,
... Show Full Article
MUNICH, Germany, June 30 -- ifo Institute issued the following news release on June 29, 2026:
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Fuel Discount in Germany Not Passed On in Full
The fuel discount has largely reached motorists, but not in full. That's according to calculations in the ifo Fuel Discount Tracker. These showed that prices in Germany for Super E5 were 17 cents lower, for Super E10 16 cents lower, and for diesel 12 cents lower than comparable prices at foreign filling stations without a fuel discount (as of June 26).
"The fuel discount for supergrade gasoline was therefore passed on to motorists almost in full,while for diesel, the figure was around 73 percent. Without the fuel discount, the daily average price per liter of supergrade gasoline would probably have remained above EUR 2 throughout the entire month of June," says Florian Neumeier, Deputy Director of the ifo Center for Public Economics.
However, according to the ifo experts, the termination of the fuel discount on June 30 also means that fuel prices are expected to rise again at the start of July. "How high they rise will depend primarily on how the price of oil develops.
Since the latter has recently fallen, fuel prices have also dropped," says Ramona Schmid, economist at the ifo Center for Public Economics.
According to the ifo researchers, the German government is right to phase out the fuel discount. "It was an expensive measure that cost the government around EUR 1.6 billion. The fact that the discount was not passed on in full for diesel means that part of it ended up with the oil companies," said Christian Greus, junior economist and doctoral student at the ifo Center for Public Economics. If the United States and Iran do indeed reach an agreement, fuel prices are likely to return to normal anyway.
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ifo Fuel Discount Tracker
We use the ifo Fuel Discount Tracker to examine whether and to what extent oil companies are passing on the fuel discount to motorists. To enable that, we track the prices of diesel, Super E5, and Super E10 in Germany and apply state-of-the-art statistical methods to estimate how much of the fuel discount actually reaches the pumps. Every weekday, we publish new figures that reflect trends up to the previous day.
Learn more (https://www.ifo.de/en/fuel-discount-tracker)
2026 Article in Journal
Kommt der Tankrabatt an den Zapfsaulen an? Ergebnisse des ifo Tankrabatt-Trackers
Christian Greus, David Gstrein, Florian Neumeier, Ramona Schmid, Stefan Smutny
ifo Schnelldienst digital, 2026, 7, Nr. 6 01-05
Learn more (https://www.ifo.de/en/publications/2026/article-journal/ergebnisse-des-ifo-tankrabatt-trackers)
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Original text here: https://www.ifo.de/en/press-release/2026-06-29/fuel-discount-germany-not-passed-full
[Category: ThinkTank]
ICTD Research Shows Uneven Adoption of International Tax Standards by Lower-Income Countries
BRIGHTON, England, June 30 (TNSrep) -- The International Centre for Tax and Development, an independent research centre that says it focuses on improving tax policy and administration in lower-income countries, issued the following news on June 29, 2026:
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New ICTD research shows uneven adoption of international tax standards by lower-income countries
Many lower-income countries have spent years incorporating international tax rules into their legal frameworks. But how these rules actually function once embedded in domestic systems is a different question - and one that has received far
... Show Full Article
BRIGHTON, England, June 30 (TNSrep) -- The International Centre for Tax and Development, an independent research centre that says it focuses on improving tax policy and administration in lower-income countries, issued the following news on June 29, 2026:
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New ICTD research shows uneven adoption of international tax standards by lower-income countries
Many lower-income countries have spent years incorporating international tax rules into their legal frameworks. But how these rules actually function once embedded in domestic systems is a different question - and one that has received farless attention.
New research (https://www.ictd.ac/publication/global-rules-local-realities-lessons-from-the-global-south-on-international-tax-standards-2/) from the International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) puts that question at the centre. The 'Comparative Perspectives on International Tax from the Global South' project, started in 2024, examines how governments in seven countries - Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Uganda, and Zambia - engage with international tax standards in practice, focusing on exchange of information, bilateral tax treaties, transfer pricing rules, and digital services taxation.
At the heart of this project is a synthesis paper, 'Global Rules, Local Realities: Lessons from the Global South on International Tax Standards', which draws together findings across all seven country case studies, identifying shared patterns while also accounting for the ways country experiences diverge.
Uneven implementation of international tax standards
One of the project's central findings is that adopting international tax standards does not produce uniform outcomes. Countries may incorporate rules into legislation or formal policy frameworks, but how they function day-to-day depends on how tax administrations interpret them, the resources available, and how they fit within broader reform agendas. As a result, implementation tends to be uneven; some elements of a standard may be prioritised while others are introduced more gradually or applied less consistently.
Research Director Martin Hearson, who leads ICTD's international tax work, said: "International standards can deliver benefits where domestic conditions allow, but, where they do not, there is a risk that substantial investment will deliver only limited returns."
The research also finds that most governments have stuck closely to the standard international model, even where simpler approaches might have suited them better. However, governments differ when it comes to sequencing reforms over time or narrowing the scope of implementation.
These adaptations are often shaped by resource and capacity constraints, but they also reflect deliberate strategic choices about where to direct limited administrative effort.
Researcher Frederik Heitmuller said: "When implementing international tax standards, countries should think creatively about sequencing, prioritisation, and alternatives."
Cross-country comparison allows analysis of unique interaction between domestic insitutions and global standards
Examining seven countries together allows the project to surface patterns that single-country studies can miss. Certain challenges recur across contexts, particularly the demands complex standards place on tax administrations, and the sustained investment in specialised skills and systems that effective implementation requires.
At the same time, each country experience also differs in meaningful ways. Differences in legal frameworks, institutional arrangements, and policy priorities all shape how standards are interpreted and applied in practice. For instance, the presence or absence of a strong court system influences how much leeway tax administrations have when applying transfer pricing rules.
Taken together, the findings suggest that international tax standards do not function as a single, uniform system. Instead, they take shape through their interaction with domestic institutions. This has implications for how standards are designed and how implementation support is structured, particularly as international tax discussions continue to evolve. (See our work around the UN Framework Convention on International Tax)
Meet the researchers: webinar on 7th July
ICTD will present the findings of the project at a public webinar on 7 July, where members of the research team, including Hearson and Heitmuller, will discuss implications for international tax policy and ongoing reform efforts.
Country Case studies and further resources
To access all case studies and read more about the project, visit this webpage. For each of the country case studies, check out:
* Ghana and International Tax Standards: A Cautionary Tale?
* Evaluating Kenya's Experience with International Tax Standards: Adoption, Suitability, and Effectiveness
* Taxing Choices: Reconciling Global International Tax Standards with Pakistan's Domestic Tax Realities
* Global Rules, Local Challenges: Peru's Adoption of International Tax Standards
* Implementation of International Tax Standards in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries: The Experience of Uganda
* Implementation of International Tax Standards in Zambia
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Original text here: https://www.ictd.ac/news/new-ictd-research-shows-uneven-adoption-of-international-tax-standards-by-lower-income-countries/
[Category: ThinkTank]
Heritage Expert: Supreme Court's Weak Ruling Inconsistent With Modern Election-Law Principles
WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Heritage Foundation issued the following news release on June 29, 2026:
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Heritage Expert: Supreme Court's Weak Ruling Inconsistent with Modern Election-Law Principles
The Supreme Court today ruled 5-4 in Watson v. Republican National Committee that federal election-day statutes do not preempt Mississippi law that allows mail-in ballots to be counted if they are postmarked or received within five days of Election Day.
This means that states--including states that allow ballots to be received and counted weeks after Election Day--can continue to do so.
Zack Smith,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Heritage Foundation issued the following news release on June 29, 2026:
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Heritage Expert: Supreme Court's Weak Ruling Inconsistent with Modern Election-Law Principles
The Supreme Court today ruled 5-4 in Watson v. Republican National Committee that federal election-day statutes do not preempt Mississippi law that allows mail-in ballots to be counted if they are postmarked or received within five days of Election Day.
This means that states--including states that allow ballots to be received and counted weeks after Election Day--can continue to do so.
Zack Smith,senior legal fellow and manager of The Heritage Foundation's Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy Program, made the following statement:
"I agree with Justice Samuel Alito, who said in his dissent that today's 'decision is inconsistent with the terms of the election-day statutes, contemporary election-law principles, two centuries of historical practice, and the case law on the question presented.'
"This decision provides all the more reason why it is critical that Congress acts to pass the SAVE America Act."
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Original text here: https://www.heritage.org/press/heritage-expert-supreme-courts-weak-ruling-inconsistent-modern-election-law-principles
[Category: ThinkTank]
Empire Center: Fourteen NYC Educators Receive Over Half a Million Dollars in Pensions
ALBANY, New York, June 30 -- Empire Center, a non-profit think tank, issued the following news release on June 29, 2026:
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Fourteen NYC Educators Receive Over Half a Million Dollars in Pensions
Fourteen retired New York City educators received more than $500,000 in pension benefits in 2025, according to data released by SeeThroughNY, the Empire Center's government transparency website.
The data was obtained from the New York City Teachers' Retirement System (NYCTRS), which manages pensions for New York City public school teachers, superintendents, and other professionals, as well as faculty
... Show Full Article
ALBANY, New York, June 30 -- Empire Center, a non-profit think tank, issued the following news release on June 29, 2026:
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Fourteen NYC Educators Receive Over Half a Million Dollars in Pensions
Fourteen retired New York City educators received more than $500,000 in pension benefits in 2025, according to data released by SeeThroughNY, the Empire Center's government transparency website.
The data was obtained from the New York City Teachers' Retirement System (NYCTRS), which manages pensions for New York City public school teachers, superintendents, and other professionals, as well as facultyfrom The City University of New York (CUNY).
Harris Zeigler, a psychology professor at Hunter College who retired in 2025, after more than 64 years of service, received the largest payout at $1,064,438. Other top recipients include:
* Iris Royster, retired in 2009, $674,392;
* Iris Rodriguez, retired in 2013, $643,895;
* Grace Schulman, English Professor at Baruch College, retired in 2023, $625,553;
* Sherrol Lyons, retired in 2009, $623,120.
In total, 69 retirees collected pensions exceeding $300,000 last year, while 273 received more than $200,000. The number of six-figure pensioners rose 13.2 percent, with 7,341 members receiving over $100,000, compared to the previous year's tally of 6,486.
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Chart: NYCTRS Pension Distribution
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Among the 93,234 NYCTRS members, 32,004 had more than 30 years of service credit--the threshold at which most members become eligible for unreduced benefits. For these "full-career" retirees, the average pension payout was $81,783.
Overall, NYCTRS made $5.02 billion in pension payments in 2025, a 2.87 percent increase over the previous year's total of $4.88 billion.
Based on hire dates in the collected data, the Empire Center grouped retirees into tiers. Tiers 1-4 follow a familiar pattern -- pensions rise steeply with tenure, with Tier 1 members in the 30+ band averaging $87,156 compared to $71,680 for Tier 4. Tiers 5 and 6 have small populations, and some show service credit exceeding what their hire dates would suggests. This is likely due to prior service buybacks, where members pay into the system to claim credit for public employment predating their membership.
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Chart: Average NYC Teacher Pension Payments
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New Retirees Make Bank
Of the 3,203 newly retired educators - those who retired in 2024 and received full pension benefits during 2025, 231 received more than $100,000 in pension benefits and six received more than $200,000.
The new "full-career" retirees - those with more than 30 years of service credit, averaged $86,122.
The top five recipients included:
* Karen Rosner, retired as Director of Visual Arts for NYC DOE, $363,401;
* Karel Rose, retired from Brooklyn College, $341,747;
* Olga Guzman, former Principal of P.S. 228 in Queens, $323,479;
* Elizabeth Fong, NYC, $248,824;
* Morris Hounion, retired CUNY Professor, $248,355.
The Empire Center earlier published the data on the pensions for the teachers in New York State, outside New York City.
Since 2008, SeeThroughNY has annually posted all available salary and pension information for state and local employees. The data are publicly available thanks to the Empire Center's years-long effort to protect the public's right to access pension records, including the names of retirees, which culminated in a landmark 2014 Court of Appeals decision.
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The Empire Center, based in Albany, is an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan think tank dedicated to promoting policies that can make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family.
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Original text here: https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/fourteen-nyc-educators-receive-over-half-a-million-dollars-in-pensions/
[Category: ThinkTank]
Center for American Progress: Supreme Court Shatters Independence of Key Agencies, Putting Americans at Risk
WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Center for American Progress issued the following statement on June 29, 2026:
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Supreme Court Shatters Independence of Key Agencies, Putting Americans at Risk
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that would allow President Donald Trump to fire the leaders of independent federal agencies without cause.
In response, Michael Sozan, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Today's radical decision shatters the independence of critical federal agencies and weakens their ability to protect the health, safety, and economic
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Center for American Progress issued the following statement on June 29, 2026:
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Supreme Court Shatters Independence of Key Agencies, Putting Americans at Risk
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that would allow President Donald Trump to fire the leaders of independent federal agencies without cause.
In response, Michael Sozan, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Today's radical decision shatters the independence of critical federal agencies and weakens their ability to protect the health, safety, and economicwell-being of Americans.
This ruling, which overturns nearly a century of well-settled law, allows the president to exert undue political pressure over government agencies that Congress designed to be insulated from such coercion.
Independent agencies are supposed to protect consumers from dangerous products, unfair labor practices, financial fraud, and a host of other harms that are too important to be subject to the political whims of the White House.
Under this ruling, the guardrails against corruption and unfair interference by President Trump are further eroded, putting millions of Americans at risk.
For more information or to talk to an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at shananel@americanprogress.org.
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Original text here: https://www.americanprogress.org/press/statement-supreme-court-shatters-independence-of-key-agencies-putting-americans-at-risk/
[Category: ThinkTank]
Center for American Progress: Supreme Court Ruling on Ballot Counting Is a Win for Voters
WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Center for American Progress issued the following statement on June 29, 2026:
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Supreme Court Ruling on Ballot Counting Is a Win for Voters
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Mississippi law that allowed mail-in ballots to be counted if they are postmarked by Election Day and received within five business days after the election.
In response, Ben Olinsky, senior vice president for Structural Reform and Governance at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This ruling is a major win for voters. It preserves state laws that are designed
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Center for American Progress issued the following statement on June 29, 2026:
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Supreme Court Ruling on Ballot Counting Is a Win for Voters
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Mississippi law that allowed mail-in ballots to be counted if they are postmarked by Election Day and received within five business days after the election.
In response, Ben Olinsky, senior vice president for Structural Reform and Governance at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This ruling is a major win for voters. It preserves state laws that are designedto make voting easier for everyone and ensure that every vote is counted.
As President Trump and conservatives continue trying to undermine the election process, this is a welcome decision that helps protect our democracy.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at shananel@americanprogress.org.
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Original text here: https://www.americanprogress.org/press/statement-supreme-court-ruling-on-ballot-counting-is-a-win-for-voters/
[Category: ThinkTank]
