Category: Policies & Impacts

Most Federal Agencies Using Less Than 25 Percent of Office Space: GAO

Most federal agencies are using less than 25 percent of their headquarters space, according to a new U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. Testifying before members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on July 13, GAO Acting Director of Physical Infrastructure David Marroni said an assessment was conducted earlier this year to determine how…


The ESG Movement Was Never Designed to Help the Environment: Kevin Stocklin

A new study from Yale says that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices could push polluters to emit more greenhouse gases. But their solution? To implement even more ESG measures. Kevin Stocklin, producer of “The Shadow State,” joins us to talk about how the ESG movement was never really designed to help the environment, and the…


California Cannabis Conundrum Continues, Major Distributor Collapses

California’s legal cannabis market has suffered a series of setbacks since June that have many questioning its future, with the largest distributor in the state forced to close and a global industry leader liquidating local facilities to free up much-needed cash reserves. The closure of Herbl’s California operations—a distributor that served approximately 98 percent of…


Farmers Call on Congress to Enforce Requirements of Foreign Trade Agreements

American farmers say they appreciate trade agreements that help them remain competitive in world markets. But they add that the accords are useless if all parties don’t comply with the terms of the deals. Don Schiefelbein is a farmer and rancher in Kimball, Minnesota, where he and his six brothers run the cattle and row…


Will the IRS Negotiate on Back Taxes?

You’ve probably seen those TV ads with companies claiming they can settle your tax debt for pennies on the dollar. The ad shows happy people saying they owed thousands of dollars but only had to pay hundreds. These companies claim to have great negotiating skills. But will the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) really come down…


Homicides Rise 96 Percent in Washington State After Passage of Gun Restrictions

Data shows that the number of homicides in Washington State skyrocketed after Second Amendment Rights were restricted. According to a report released July 10 (pdf), the rate of murders, violence, and property crimes rose across Washington state in 2022, while the number of law enforcement officers available to respond and protect citizens decreased. Specifically, the…


Election Watchdog Sues to Stop Acceptance of Ballots After Election Day

An election integrity group is suing North Dakota to block its law that allows the state to accept and count mail-in ballots so long as they arrive within 13 days after Election Day. There are reportedly 18 states, plus the District of Columbia, that accept mailed ballots that are delivered after Election Day. Congress created…


Chinese Money Launderers Are Major Obstacles in Fight Against Fentanyl: US Officials

Law enforcement officials say that America’s drug war is now in cyberspace, and the main antagonists are transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) serviced by Chinese money laundering outfits. “Mexican cartels’ ability to traffic deadly fentanyl into the United States is greatly enhanced by Chinese money laundering,” said Steven Cagen, assistant director of the Countering Transnational Organized…


Chinese Money Launderers a Major Obstacle in Fight Against Fentanyl: US Officials

Law enforcement officials say that America’s drug war is now in cyberspace, and the main antagonists are transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) serviced by Chinese money laundering outfits. “Mexican cartels’ ability to traffic deadly fentanyl into the United States is greatly enhanced by Chinese money laundering,” said Steven Cagen, assistant director of the Countering Transnational Organized…


IN-DEPTH: House GOP Spar Over ‘Culture War’ Amendments to $886 Billion Defense Budget

For those steeped in the cement-dense rules of the legislative process who enjoy parliamentary intrigue, power plays, and shifting alliances all entangled in the nation’s must-pass defense budget, the United States House of Representatives is putting together a Republican-produced summer thriller. For everyone else, brace for a series of hotly contested floor clashes on dozens—perhaps,…