Colorado was the first state to cap a drug’s price – then a federal court stepped in

Colorado is one of a handful of states with a review board for drug prices and one of only four with a board empowered to set upper limits on what state agencies, insurers and other purchasers may pay or be reimbursed for certain high-cost drugs dispensed to patients in the state. In fall 2025, the […]

Continue Reading

Featuring Trump on US coins and bills would put America in rare company

A slang term for cash money is “dead presidents.” But now the very much alive President Donald Trump could appear on U.S. coins and banknotes, too. Ever since Trump returned to power in 2025, his administration has put the president’s face and name on all sorts of things, from federal buildings to national park passes. […]

Continue Reading

Now that the World Cup is over, can host cities turn their investment into a lasting social impact?

The 2026 World Cup has been a real moneymaker for FIFA. Revenues from TV broadcasting rights, ticket sales and other commercial sources are projected to amount to nearly US$11 billion, making it the most financially successful event in the international soccer governing body’s history. But what about the cities that hosted the tournament’s games? Spread […]

Continue Reading

What are Trump Accounts for? They are more likely to help newborns start building nest eggs than help pay for their college education

If you or someone you know has a baby or a child under 18, you’re likely wondering if they should get a “Trump Account.” The U.S. government started giving babies born during President Donald Trump’s second term a US$1,000 gift on July 4, 2026. This money goes into the accounts, which are named after the […]

Continue Reading

Autocracies get more repressive when opening up their economies – a political scientists explores why

The current state of democracy in the world is fragile. According to the V-Dem Project, which measures global democracy, 41% of the world’s population live in autocratizing countries — that is, those becoming more authoritarian. In fact, a “third wave of autocratization” has seen democracy pushed back to levels not seen since 1978, the authors […]

Continue Reading

Why you let down your guard on ads when scrolling on social media

My wife stared at me in shock as I ripped opened the package. The FedEx driver hadn’t even made it back to his truck as I held the item up overhead like a trophy. Fumbling for words, she asked: “Why on earth did you buy a Speedo … with dinosaur tear-away trunks?” Honestly, I couldn’t […]

Continue Reading

A perfect storm of factors is driving up US produce prices, but shoppers can still save

From tomatoes and berries to lettuce and peppers, shoppers are feeling sticker shock in the produce aisle. Recent headlines have focused in particular on soaring tomato prices. They spiked by roughly one-fifth from June 2025 to June 2026, according to consumer price data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But across the board, […]

Continue Reading

Foundations can outlive their charitable missions – and that’s a problem

Bill Gates, Jensen Huang and many of today’s tech titans have two things in common with Gilded Age robber barons like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. After playing a role in propelling the U.S. economy to new heights, they established massive foundations. The foundations are usually designed to last for eternity. Gates is a […]

Continue Reading

A rare bipartisan housing bill just became law

A sweeping housing measure, which became law on July 11, 2026, is being widely celebrated as a crucial step in addressing the nation’s housing crisis. The ROAD to Housing Act is one of the few substantive bills passed by Congress in recent years, and the first major housing bill enacted since the 1990s. Despite clearing […]

Continue Reading

Why better-off cities and towns see more benefits from data centers than rural regions

The fierce backlash against data centers shows no sign of easing up. Since early 2024, more than 1,200 public actions – including zoning fights, public campaigns and temporary moratoriums – have been logged by the Data Center Tracker, a public U.S. database of community responses to data center site selection. Among the concerns, grid capacity, […]

Continue Reading