Think Tanks
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AFPI Hosts Athletes & Officers Roundtable
WASHINGTON, May 14 -- The America First Policy Institute issued the following news release on May 13, 2026:
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AFPI Hosts Athletes & Officers Roundtable
Today, the America First Policy Institute hosted the "Athletes & Officers: Defending the American Dream" roundtable in honor of National Police Week.
This event brought together law enforcement officers, their families, athletes, community leaders and policy experts for a conversation about the intersection of mentorship, crime prevention, and shaping the next generation of Americans.
Frank D. Murphy, chair of AFPI's Athletes for America
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 14 -- The America First Policy Institute issued the following news release on May 13, 2026:
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AFPI Hosts Athletes & Officers Roundtable
Today, the America First Policy Institute hosted the "Athletes & Officers: Defending the American Dream" roundtable in honor of National Police Week.
This event brought together law enforcement officers, their families, athletes, community leaders and policy experts for a conversation about the intersection of mentorship, crime prevention, and shaping the next generation of Americans.
Frank D. Murphy, chair of AFPI's Athletes for AmericaCoalition, stressed the importance of the topics discussed in this roundtable:
"At 15, I found myself incarcerated after making poor choices. Sports gave me a second chance and taught me the discipline, respect, and perseverance I needed to turn my life around.
I am living proof that mentorship works. I strongly encourage law enforcement officers to actively participate in community sports programs and fill that mentorship role, and I urge parents to enroll their children.
These programs deliver far more than athletic skills; they teach essential life lessons and help bridge the gap between communities and law enforcement."
AFPI is committed to promoting policies that enable athletes and community leaders to partner with both law enforcement and policymakers to inspire the next generation to support law enforcement, and uphold service, discipline, and the rule of law.
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Original text here: https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/afpi-hosts-athletes-officers-roundtable
[Category: ThinkTank]
The Buckeye Institute: Ohio Must Adopt SNAP Reforms to Avoid Bill for Waste, Fraud & Abuse
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 13 [Category: Think Tank] -- The Buckeye Institute, an independent research and educational institution that says its mission is to advance free-market public policy, posted the following news release:
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The Buckeye Institute: Ohio Must Adopt SNAP Reforms to Avoid Bill for Waste, Fraud & Abuse
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Columbus, OH - In a new policy memo (see full text below or download a PDF ), The Buckeye Institute urged Ohio policymakers to pursue reforms to how Ohio manages the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to avoid being hit with a $321 million bill from the federal
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COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 13 [Category: Think Tank] -- The Buckeye Institute, an independent research and educational institution that says its mission is to advance free-market public policy, posted the following news release:
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The Buckeye Institute: Ohio Must Adopt SNAP Reforms to Avoid Bill for Waste, Fraud & Abuse
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Columbus, OH - In a new policy memo (see full text below or download a PDF ), The Buckeye Institute urged Ohio policymakers to pursue reforms to how Ohio manages the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to avoid being hit with a $321 million bill from the federalgovernment for high rates of fraud, waste, and abuse.
In the memo, Rea S. Hederman Jr., vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, recommended that policymakers:
* Improve the state's integrated data system, Ohio Benefits, to make it more efficient;
* Streamline information sharing between county and state caseworkers to reduce improper payments without harming eligible recipients; and
* Allow for gradual benefit reductions to protect recipients from a "benefits cliff."
As Hederman outlined, these reforms are necessary because the federal government "now requires states with a six percent or higher erroneous payment rate to pay between five and 15 percent of benefit costs." So, "[i]nstead of splitting administrative costs, the federal government will now only cover 25 percent, leaving states responsible for the remaining 75 percent."
In 2024, Ohio's SNAP error payment rate was approximately nine percent, leaving Ohio with a "match cost of $321 million if it fails to lower its error rate below six percent by FY2028." If Ohio's error rate persists at current levels, it will face $588 million in matching costs.
Hederman praised reforms at the federal level, specifically Senator Jon Husted's Upward Mobility Act, which will help beneficiaries avoid "benefit cliffs" and, in turn, decrease "erroneous SNAP payments." Senator Husted's bill would merge "multiple federal welfare programs into a single funding stream, allowing Ohio to oversee all of its benefit programs in a single system."
Ohio Needs SNAP Reform
By Rea s. Hederman Jr.
May 13, 2026
The Buckeye Institute's Recommendation
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is marred by improper enrollment and insufficient oversight. New federal law requires Ohio to reduce its erroneous payment rate and monitor the entitlement program more responsibly. The state's integrated data system, Ohio Benefits, could be more efficient and policymakers should encourage a more coordinated effort between county and state caseworkers to consolidate diffuse program data. Improving oversight, increasing transparency, and streamlining information sharing will help reduce improper payments without harming eligible beneficiaries. The state should simultaneously pursue policies that protect against "benefit cliffs" by allowing for gradual benefit reductions when appropriate.
Background
Originally a safety-net program designed to help disabled and low-income individuals afford groceries, SNAP has expanded well beyond its initial purpose. But the program has been plagued by controversies over improper payments, ballooning enrollment, and rising costs that taxpayers are compelled to cover. Fortunately, federal policy changes have spurred momentum for overdue reform. Because SNAP was funded entirely by the federal government, state governments lacked incentives to rigorously oversee the program and its potential for fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer funds. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), however, now requires states with a six percent or higher erroneous payment rate to pay between five and 15 percent of benefit costs. Instead of splitting administrative costs, the federal government will now only cover 25 percent, leaving states responsible for the remaining 75 percent.
Since 2013, SNAP erroneous payments have been steadily rising, likely due to the Food and Nutrition Service's lenient requirements during the COVID pandemic. Extending certification periods, foregoing face-to-face interviews, and ignoring periodic reporting encouraged individuals to falsify information. Most states also have allowed SNAP EBT cards to purchase food online, but only a handful use EBT chip security to reduce fraud.
In FY2024, Ohio's SNAP error payment rate was approximately nine percent, two points below the national average. According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), Ohio now faces a match cost of $321 million if it fails to lower its error rate below six percent by FY2028. Ohio House Bill 434 appropriated $21 million to implement a technical system to identify and reduce payment error rates. Ohio House Bill 730 earmarks $12.5 million for ODJFS at the county level to offset administrative costs associated with reducing the error rate; and a new law now requires ODJFS to report quarterly to the Ohio Senate and House finance committees concerning payment error rates. Together, these provisions emphasize transparency and program accountability.
The OBBBA's error-rate deadline gives Ohio an incentive to be more conscientious about state spending and monitoring entitlement benefits. Last year, as more households joined the program, Ohio's cost share is expected to rise from an estimated $320 million to approximately $588 million if the error rate persists at current levels.
As SNAP reforms progress and take effect, Ohio Senator Jon Husted has introduced the Upward Mobility Act to help beneficiaries avoid "benefit cliffs" that occur when a slight income increase costs someone all of their public assistance benefits. Benefit cliffs trap beneficiaries on public assistance, create a financial disincentive for self-sufficiency and improvement, and encourage participants to underreport income-which increases erroneous SNAP payments. The Upward Mobility Act avoids benefits cliffs and their negative effects by gradually reducing public assistance benefits as individuals earn more.
Significantly, the Upward Mobility Act also merges multiple federal welfare programs into a single funding stream, allowing Ohio to oversee all of its benefit programs in a single system. This will increase collaboration between state and county caseworkers, and help ensure that program enrollees are truly eligible. Arkansas has integrated and centralized data from multiple public welfare programs, which has allowed it to consolidate eligibility and benefit issuance for SNAP, Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Following Arkansas' example, a more collaborative, data-sharing partnership between county and state caseworkers could help Ohio resolve payment errors, reduce improper program enrollment, and save taxpayer money through greater efficiency.
Conclusion
Federal law requires Ohio to better supervise SNAP payments and reduce programmatic fraud, waste, and abuse. Failure to do so will mean paying stiff federal penalties. Adopting a more integrated, collaborative data-sharing infrastructure will help meet federal standards, protect taxpayer resources, and ensure fiscal responsibility. And Senator Husted's Upward Mobility Act will protect beneficiaries by easing disincentives that create perpetual welfare traps.
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Original text here: https://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/research/detail/the-buckeye-institute-ohio-must-adopt-snap-reforms-to-avoid-bill-for-waste-fraud-abuse
PPI Calls for Senate Banking Committee to Close Stablecoin Yield Loophole
WASHINGTON, May 13 [Category: ThinkTank] -- The Progressive Policy Institute posted the following news release:
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PPI Calls for Senate Banking Committee to Close Stablecoin Yield Loophole
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Paul Weinstein Jr., Senior Fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), issued the following statement ahead of the markup of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, also known as the CLARITY Act, by the Senate Banking Committee:
"Tomorrow, the Senate Banking Committee will begin marking up the CLARITY Act. The Committee has wanted to use the markup to clarify Section 4 of the GENIUS Act, which
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 13 [Category: ThinkTank] -- The Progressive Policy Institute posted the following news release:
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PPI Calls for Senate Banking Committee to Close Stablecoin Yield Loophole
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Paul Weinstein Jr., Senior Fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), issued the following statement ahead of the markup of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, also known as the CLARITY Act, by the Senate Banking Committee:
"Tomorrow, the Senate Banking Committee will begin marking up the CLARITY Act. The Committee has wanted to use the markup to clarify Section 4 of the GENIUS Act, whichprohibits stablecoin issuers from paying yield like banks, but remains silent on stablecoin deposits on third-party platforms.
"But instead of closing the yield loophole, which will draw deposits away from regulated and insured banks and credit unions, the Committee is planning to consider a 'compromise' amendment that actually codifies the loophole into law.
"Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) should be commended for their attempt to achieve a bipartisan compromise. But providing consumers with a less expensive payment processing tool does not require allowing stablecoins to offer customers yield-like rewards -and their proposed amendment should be strengthened to reflect that reality."
Founded in 1989, PPI is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Find an expert and learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org. Follow us at @PPI.
Media Contact: Ian O'Keefe - iokeefe@ppionline.org
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Original text here: https://www.progressivepolicy.org/ppi-calls-for-senate-banking-committee-to-close-stablecoin-yield-loophole/
Manhattan Institute Issues Commentary to New York Post: New York Crime 'Revolves' Around Recidivists - as State's Laws Release Danger Onto Our Streets
NEW YORK, May 13 -- The Manhattan Institute issued the following excerpts of a commentary on May 11, 2026, by fellow Charles Fain Lehman to the New York Post:
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New York Crime 'Revolves' Around Recidivists -- as State's Laws Release Danger onto Our Streets
Another New Yorker was made the victim of the city's revolving-door criminal justice system last week.
Ross Falzone, 76, was entering a subway station in Chelsea when Rhamell Burke, 32, allegedly shoved him down a flight of stairs. Falzone later died from his injuries.
In spite of this, somehow Burke appeared in court on a completely
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, May 13 -- The Manhattan Institute issued the following excerpts of a commentary on May 11, 2026, by fellow Charles Fain Lehman to the New York Post:
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New York Crime 'Revolves' Around Recidivists -- as State's Laws Release Danger onto Our Streets
Another New Yorker was made the victim of the city's revolving-door criminal justice system last week.
Ross Falzone, 76, was entering a subway station in Chelsea when Rhamell Burke, 32, allegedly shoved him down a flight of stairs. Falzone later died from his injuries.
In spite of this, somehow Burke appeared in court on a completelydifferent charge the next morning.
Even more shockingly, he was allowed to walk free.
Burke had also been released from Bellevue just hours before he allegedly took Falzone's life.
Continue reading the entire piece here at the New York Post (https://nypost.com/2026/05/11/opinion/crime-revolves-around-recidivists).
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Charles Fain Lehman is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor of City Journal.
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Original text here: https://manhattan.institute/article/new-york-crime-revolves-around-recidivists-as-states-laws-release-danger-onto-our-streets
[Category: ThinkTank]
Ifo Institute: More Electricity Outages Due to Climate Change
MUNICH, Germany, May 13 (TNSxrep) -- ifo Institute issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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More Electricity Outages Due to Climate Change
Due to climate change, electricity outages could become more frequent in many countries in the coming years. This is indicated by the findings of a new study by EconPol Europe. It examines electricity outages in consumer grids from 2013 to 2023 in five countries: Germany, Australia, Brazil, China, and Mexico. "Germany has a relatively reliable electricity grid, but extreme weather and heatwaves will increasingly put pressure on the infrastructure
... Show Full Article
MUNICH, Germany, May 13 (TNSxrep) -- ifo Institute issued the following news release on May 12, 2026:
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More Electricity Outages Due to Climate Change
Due to climate change, electricity outages could become more frequent in many countries in the coming years. This is indicated by the findings of a new study by EconPol Europe. It examines electricity outages in consumer grids from 2013 to 2023 in five countries: Germany, Australia, Brazil, China, and Mexico. "Germany has a relatively reliable electricity grid, but extreme weather and heatwaves will increasingly put pressure on the infrastructurehere as well," says ifo researcher Jacqueline Adelowo.
According to the study, the number of unplanned electricity outages in Germany is lowest in winter and rises significantly by midsummer. In December of each year from 2013 to 2023, there was an average of 3,616 unplanned electricity outages. In July, the number rose by 53 percent to 5,546 events. However, not all of these events necessarily affect a large number of households. During the windstorm Niklas on March 31, 2015, 1,887 interruptions were registered in a single day - a record for the period under review.
"Extreme heat, thunderstorms, and severe storms in the summer are putting a noticeable strain on the German power system. However, compared to Brazil or Mexico, electricity outages in Germany are far more seldom in absolute terms," says ifo researcher Filippo Pavanello. On average, unplanned electricity outages in Germany lasted between 1.5 and 2 hours. In only one percent of the events the outage lasted longer than 18 hours. That means Germany is in a comparatively good position: In China, many outages lasted more than six hours, and in extreme cases power was unavailable for as long as 73 hours.
The researchers write that the ongoing integration of European electricity grids generally makes Germany's supply more resilient, as resources in different countries would be available to offset imbalances. At the same time, the risk of cascading failures increases when disruptions propagate rapidly across borders. That is why, in addition to grid expansion, coordinated governance, joint operational protocols.
The study is based on daily data on electricity outages at the distribution grid level from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, Germany, and Mexico for the period from 2013 to 2023. The data comes from regulatory agencies and distribution system operators. It contains information about the time of the outages, whether the outage was planned or unplanned, and the causes of the outage.
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Publication
2026 Article in Journal
Under Strain: International Insights into Electricity Grid Outages
Jacqueline Adelowo, Francesco Pietro Colelli, Norwin Lang, Filippo Pavanello
EconPol Forum 27 (2) 60-70
Learn more (https://www.ifo.de/en/econpol/publications/2026/article-journal/under-strain-international-insights-electricity-grid-outages)
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Original text here: https://www.ifo.de/en/press-release/2026-05-12/more-electricity-outages-due-to-climate-change
[Category: ThinkTank]
CAP Denounces Elimination of Public Lands Conservation Requirements
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- The Center for American Progress issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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CAP Denounces Elimination of Public Lands Conservation Requirements
Today, the Trump administration took action to eliminate the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM's) Public Lands Rule, which was issued in 2024 to provide long-overdue guideposts for conserving and stewarding the health of BLM public lands.
Overseeing 245 million acres of public lands--more than three times as much public land as the National Park Service--the BLM is the largest land manager in the United States. The
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- The Center for American Progress issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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CAP Denounces Elimination of Public Lands Conservation Requirements
Today, the Trump administration took action to eliminate the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM's) Public Lands Rule, which was issued in 2024 to provide long-overdue guideposts for conserving and stewarding the health of BLM public lands.
Overseeing 245 million acres of public lands--more than three times as much public land as the National Park Service--the BLM is the largest land manager in the United States. Therescission of the rule leaves the BLM without comprehensive regulations for conserving natural resources across those lands.
In response, Drew McConville, senior fellow for conservation policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
After gutting the staff and funding for America's public lands, the Trump administration is now rigging the system so oil and gas CEOs and corporate insiders can call the shots. By eliminating basic conservation requirements for nearly 250 million acres of public lands, this action effectively gives drilling and mining priority over the long-term health of our lands and waters.
Additional resources:
* CAP Report on final Bureau of Land Management rules issued in 2024:
* "New Public Lands Actions Turn the Page on Decades of Conflict and Mismanagement" by Drew McConville (https://www.americanprogress.org/article/new-public-lands-actions-turn-the-page-on-decades-of-conflict-and-mismanagement/)
* 2023 CAP Report on the Public Lands Rule: "What Biden's Proposed Conservation Rule Would Mean for America's Most Vulnerable Public Lands" by Drew McConville and Kara Matsumoto (https://www.americanprogress.org/article/what-bidens-proposed-conservation-rule-would-mean-for-americas-most-vulnerable-public-lands/)
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-cap-denounces-elimination-of-public-lands-conservation-requirements/
[Category: ThinkTank]
April PPI shows inflation still a major problem for the Fed and the economy: CEI analysis
WASHINGTON, May 13 [Category: ThinkTank] -- The Competitive Enterprise Institute posted the following news release:
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April PPI shows inflation still a major problem for the Fed and the economy: CEI analysis
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The April Producer Price Index (PPI) shows a 1.4 percent jump, the largest increase since 2022. Inflation remains a stubborn issue for the Federal Reserve, as conflict abroad further muddles the global economy.
CEI finance and monetary policy analyst Steve Swedberg :
"Today's PPI report underscores how difficult inflation has become for the Federal Reserve to manage using interest
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 13 [Category: ThinkTank] -- The Competitive Enterprise Institute posted the following news release:
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April PPI shows inflation still a major problem for the Fed and the economy: CEI analysis
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The April Producer Price Index (PPI) shows a 1.4 percent jump, the largest increase since 2022. Inflation remains a stubborn issue for the Federal Reserve, as conflict abroad further muddles the global economy.
CEI finance and monetary policy analyst Steve Swedberg :
"Today's PPI report underscores how difficult inflation has become for the Federal Reserve to manage using interestrate policy. Much of the pricing pressure currently facing producers reflects supply-chain disruptions, higher transportation costs, and rising prices for industrial inputs.
"Recent instability in the Middle East and continued uncertainty surrounding global shipping routes have increased transportation and input costs across multiple sectors. These pressures can move through supply chains long before they appear in consumer-facing inflation data.
"Producer prices matter because they often reflect upstream cost pressures before those pressures reach consumers. Businesses facing higher input costs must either absorb those costs, reduce investment, or pass them on to consumers.
"The persistence of producer-side inflation raises questions about whether tighter monetary policy alone can restore price stability. Higher interest rates may cool borrowing, but they do little to resolve disruptions in shipping networks, manufacturing input shortages, or energy supply constraints.
"Inflation cannot persist without monetary accommodation, but today's producer-price pressures demonstrate how supply constraints and geopolitical instability can intensify and prolong those pressures."
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Original text here: https://cei.org/news_releases/april-ppi-shows-inflation-still-a-major-problem-for-the-fed-and-the-economy-cei-analysis/
