Cuts that let air out of the economy's tires

+ AI literacy is important, but what is it? ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

US Edition - Today's top story: Federal R&D funding boosts productivity for the whole economy − making big cuts to such government spending unwise View in browser   US Edition | 12 June 2025 Top headlines Future historians will have a much-truncated presidential record Some positive signals on college students' mental health challenges Dementia can cause people to misjudge financial abilities Lead story Scientists across the nation are reeling due to the Trump administration's cancellation of nearly $2 billion in government grants for research and development. But a much bigger assault, with serious economic repercussions, could be coming: The proposed 2026 draft budget calls for cutting $18 billion just from the National Institutes of Health and many billions more from other research powerhouses. Andrew Fieldhouse, a Texas A&M University economist, has been studying the long-term economic benefits of government-funded R&D with a colleague at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He explains how federally funded research directly impacts the economy. "Everything from the Apollo space program to the Human Genome Project has fueled innovation," he writes. "We also found that federal R&D spending has played a significant role in boosting U.S. productivity and spurring economic growth over the past 75 years." [ Miss us on Sundays? Get a selection of our best and most popular stories (or try our other weekly emails). ] Emily Schwartz Greco Philanthropy + Nonprofits Editor Research can make everyone better off. Emilija Manevska/Moment via Getty Images Federal R&D funding boosts productivity for the whole economy − making big cuts to such government spending unwise Andrew Fieldhouse, Texas A&M University Government R&D encompasses all innovative work the government directly pays for, regardless of who does it. Science + Technology AI literacy: What it is, what it isn't, who needs it and why it's hard to define Daniel S. Schiff, Purdue University; Arne Bewersdorff, Technical University of Munich; Marie Hornberger, Technical University of Munich President Trump's executive order calling for AI literacy highlights its importance. The order also underscores its amorphous nature. Here's how to develop and measure effective AI literacy programs. AI tools collect and store data about you from all your devices – here's how to be aware of what you're revealing Christopher Ramezan, West Virginia University AI tools that provide information to you also gather lots of information from you and may provide it to third parties. Environment + Energy How poisonous mercury can get from coal-fired power plants into the fish you eat – Trump's EPA plans to weaken emissions rules meant to lower the risk Gabriel Filippelli, Indiana University The Trump administration says it plans to roll back mercury limits for coal-fired power plants. A health expert explains mercury's risks to humans and the role power plants play. Energy Star, on the Trump administration's target list, has a long history of helping consumers' wallets and the planet Magali A. Delmas, University of California, Los Angeles The small blue Energy Star label has become one of the most recognizable environmental certifications in the US. Politics + Society Sanctuary cities can't protect people from ICE immigration raids − but they don't actually violate federal law Benjamin Gonzalez O'Brien, San Diego State University; Loren Collingwood, University of New Mexico There's no one set legal definition for sanctuary cities and other places with these policies. But they often limit local coordination with federal immigration authorities. World's most powerful ex-New Yorker gets a DC military parade, not a ticker-tape celebration in Manhattan's Canyon of Heroes Lincoln Mitchell, Columbia University Trump's $45 million parade in Washington, DC, underscores his love-hate relationship with New York, the city where ticker-tape parades have traditionally honored America's victories and heroes. From Washington's burned letters to Trump's missing transcripts, partial presidential records limit people's full understanding of history Shannon Bow O'Brien, The University of Texas at Austin A nation's history is told by its records. The White House no longer publishing Trump's full remarks makes this history less complete. How a new bus line in Philadelphia is defying post-pandemic transit trends Julene Paul, University of Texas at Arlington; Josh Davidson, Oberlin College and Conservatory The success of SEPTA's new Route 49 suggests public transit agencies can increase ridership by catering to current users instead of chasing car owners. Health + Medicine Adolescents who smoke or vape may believe tobacco's perceived coping benefits outweigh accepted health risks Adriana Espinosa, City College of New York; Lesia M. Ruglass, City College of New York Public health messaging focused solely on the health risks related to using tobacco products misses the mark with some teens. Older adults with dementia misjudge their financial skills – which may make them more vulnerable to fraud, new research finds Ian McDonough, Binghamton University, State University of New York Older adults are generally good at judging their capacity for handling their finances, but cognitive impairment degrades that skill. Proactive planning can help protect them from fraud. Ethics + Religion Video games teach students in this class how religion works in the modern world Michael Naparstek, University of Tennessee As video games such as 'Black Myth: Wukong,' with strong religious themes, gain popularity, a course uses the interactive experience to teach students about the role of religion. Education The complex reality of college student mental health: Data reveals both challenges and positive trends Jeffrey A. Hayes, Penn State College students' psychological well-being has deteriorated in the past two decades, but recent data suggests the tide could be turning. Trending on site If people stopped having babies, how long would it be before humans were all gone? Trump–Xi call boosts Chinese president's tough man image — and may have handed him the upper hand in future talks Binge drinking brake found in mouse brains, offering future path to treating alcohol abuse – new research Today's video🎥 Click on the image to watch a short video version of the article, A brief history of Medicaid and America's long struggle to establish a health care safety net More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • Weekly Highlights • Science Editors' Picks • Artificial Intelligence [New!] • Giving Today • This Week in Religion • Politics Weekly • Global Perspectives • Global Economy & Business Follow us on social media: • Bluesky • Mastodon • Threads • Nostr • LinkedIn • Instagram • Facebook • Or get a daily text from us Tell your friends about us! Forward this email to them so they can sample our journalism. 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