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Republicans just got a powerful new playbook for the battle for Congress. Here’s what inside

2026-09-17T09:12:05-04:00 / Fox News

Advancing American Freedom’s ‘Affordability 101’ blueprint targets regulations, tariffs and subsidies ahead of midterms

By Kiera McDonald, Amanda Macias Fox News

Published September 17, 2026 9:12am EDT

Conservative group unveils affordability blueprint for Congress

Advancing American Freedom President Tim Chapman and Richard Stern, vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at AAF, told Fox News Digital why they believe cutting regulations and expanding competition can lower costs.

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FIRST ON FOX: With control of Congress on the line and pocketbook issues dominating the campaign trail, a prominent conservative group is unveiling a sweeping affordability agenda aimed at giving Republicans a sharper economic message ahead of the November midterm elections.

The Advancing American Freedom report, “Affordability 101,” obtained first by Fox News Digital ahead of its Capitol Hill rollout Thursday, lays out more than 100 recommendations to lower the costs of housing, energy, food and healthcare by expanding supply, increasing competition and reducing government barriers.

The blueprint is a potential resource for Republican lawmakers and congressional staff while affordability emerges as one of the defining issues of the 2026 midterm elections. Founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, Advancing American Freedom argues costs can be lowered by reducing regulations, encouraging competition and boosting domestic production rather than creating new federal subsidies.

“We want free market conservative candidates to go out there and not just put on the red jersey or not just fight against the blue jersey, but to go there and give people ideas that actually work,” Advancing American Freedom President Tim Chapman told Fox News Digital.

TRUMP’S AFFORDABILITY PLAN FACES CONSERVATIVE PUSHBACK AS POCKETBOOK ISSUES LOOM OVER MIDTERMS

President Donald Trump arrives on stage to deliver remarks on the economy at the Rocky Mount Event Center in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, on Dec. 19, 2025.(Daniel Torok/Official White House Photo)

Chapman argued the size and scope of government plays a larger role in affordability than many Americans realize.

“The size and scope of the government matters more than people understand in terms of its impact on the economy,” Chapman said. “If you look at interest rates right now and how much of the skyrocketing interest rates are fueled by the debt and deficit problem, that’s something we need to be concerned about as Americans.”

Many of the proposals align with Trump administration priorities, including expanding domestic energy production, building more homes, reducing regulations and encouraging innovation.

But the blueprint also breaks with the administration on several issues.

TRUMP JUST EXPANDED HIS TARIFF PLAYBOOK WITH A POWERFUL TRADE WEAPON NO PRESIDENT HAS EVER USED

The blueprint argues that expanding domestic energy production and easing regulations on artificial intelligence and data centers can help lower costs.(Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

One flashpoint is Vice President JD Vance’s proposal to expand childcare subsidies by broadening eligibility under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), potentially providing some married families with a stay-at-home parent up to about $9,000 per child annually.

“His proposal sounds great, right?” Richard Stern, vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom, told Fox News Digital. “But the truth is, in many cases, it’s a $9,000 divorce bonus.”

On housing, the report says government regulations add 26.4% to the cost of a new single-family home and calls for permitting, zoning and land-use reforms to lower construction costs.

“I think those memos that deal with construction regulations and land use are the core group that would help affordability the most,” Stern said.

5 STATES COULD BE THE BIGGEST LOSERS IN TRUMP’S TRADE WAR WITH CANADA, EXPERT WARNS

The report is meant to give lawmakers concrete policy proposals they can take back to voters.(Al Drago/Getty Images)

The report also argues tariffs raise consumer prices, another point of disagreement with the administration.

“If you look at your grocery bill, how much of that is impacted by tariffs?” Chapman said. “That’s driving up the price of goods and it’s hurting people in their pocketbooks.”

The blueprint also argues that expanding domestic energy production and easing regulations on artificial intelligence and data centers can help lower costs. Trump has championed rapid data center development despite growing concerns over electricity demand and local impacts.

“The counties that have data centers are making money off of it,” Stern said. “They’re actually reducing energy prices for those homes.”

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As candidates sharpen their economic messages ahead of November, Chapman said the report is meant to give lawmakers concrete policy proposals they can take back to voters.

“We want people to have those solutions,” Chapman said. “When they go home and talk to their constituents about the future of the country, they can say, ‘I actually have an idea. Here’s an idea for getting interest rates down or here’s an idea for more small business growth.’”

Kiera McDonald is a Production Assistant for Fox News Digital.

US Senate panel sets hearing for Trump’s FDA pick

2026-09-17T15:43:56.029Z / Reuters

By Ahmed Aboulenein

September 17, 2026 3:43 PM UTC Updated 29 mins ago

Centre for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr Mehmet Oz, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and U.S. President Donald Trump stand as Heidi Overton speaks during an event to deliver remarks about health care costs and affordability from an auditorium on the White House campus in Washington,… Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tabRead more

WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate health committee will hold a confirmation hearing next week for Dr. Heidi Overton, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the embattled Food ​and Drug Administration, the panel said on Thursday.

The hearing will take place on ‌September 24, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee said in a statement. Trump nominated Overton, a White House policy aide, in August, turning to an “America First” ally to steady an agency ​shaken by staff losses, low morale and fights over vaccines, the abortion pill ​and drug approvals.

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If the Senate confirms her, Overton will take over an ⁠FDA that has lost more than 3,000 staff over the past year, including division ​heads, and is under pressure to rebuild confidence among industry and public-health groups.

The agency, which ​is responsible for regulating and approving all drugs, treatments and vaccines, has faced concerns it has become too political.

Trump’s previous FDA commissioner, Marty Makary, resigned in May after 13 months in the job ​following clashes with White House officials over flavored vapes, a stalled abortion-pill safety study ​and public disagreements with drugmakers such as Replimune, Sarepta and Moderna over reviews of potentially lifesaving medicines ‌and ⁠vaccines.

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Overton, a preventive medicine physician by training who serves as deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank.

Her nomination coincides with new efforts by Trump health officials to take action on ​a number of controversial ​issues, including autism ⁠and vaccines as well as the abortion pill.

She spoke at a White House event last month at which Trump signed a new ​executive order calling for significantly cutting back the national childhood vaccination ​schedule and ⁠splitting the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate shots, a move physicians and vaccine makers swiftly rejected.

The administration is tackling a backlog of health vacancies across government. The ⁠Senate confirmed ​Dr. Erica Schwartz to lead the Centers for Disease ​Control and Prevention last month, and Senate panels have held confirmation hearings this week for other vacant top ​posts including deputy health secretary and surgeon general.

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Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Nia Williams

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新津上半年贸易额同比增4% 徐芳达吁深化合作创造新机遇

2026年9月17日 23:00 / 联合早报

• 新加坡与中国天津今年上半年双边贸易额同比增长约4%，国家发展部长徐芳达呼吁双方深化合作，创造新的增长机遇。 – 徐芳达会见中共天津市委书记陈敏尔，双方肯定中新天津生态城过去18年进展，同意着手规划下一阶段发展。 – 徐芳达与天津市长张工共同主持理事会第12次会议，建议利用生态城平台助新津企业双向拓展市场。 – 目前新加坡企业在天津参与项目超过1200个；截至今年6月，约80家天津企业在新加坡运营。

国家发展部长徐芳达（左）星期二（15日）会见中共天津市委书记陈敏尔时，双方同意着手规划中新天津生态城下一阶段的发展。 （取自徐芳达脸书）

新加坡与中国天津的经贸关系持续加强，今年上半年的双边贸易额同比增长约4%。国家发展部长徐芳达指出，随着中新天津生态城在2028年迎来20周年，天津也迈入下一阶段发展，双方可深化合作，创造新的增长机遇。

徐芳达从星期天（9月13日）起对中国进行六天访问。他星期四（17日）晚上在脸书贴文透露，他星期二（15日）会见中共天津市委书记陈敏尔时，双方肯定生态城过去18年取得的良好进展，并同意着手规划下一阶段的发展，包括加强生态城作为中国可持续城市发展、宜居社区和优质住房的示范作用。

也是新加坡—天津经贸理事会新方联合主席的徐芳达，星期三（16日）与天津市长张工共同主持理事会第12次会议时，呼吁双方充分利用生态城的基础设施、人才和科研生态系统，以及它与天津其他地区的联系，吸引更多企业和投资，创造新的增长机遇。

徐芳达也建议利用生态城这一平台，让新加坡企业在天津寻找商机，同时让有意进军东南亚市场的天津企业，将新加坡作为跳板和区域总部。

他透露，目前新加坡企业在天津参与的项目超过1200个。国家发展部兼交通部高级政务部长孙雪玲则在会上披露，截至今年6月，约80家天津企业在新加坡运营，包括国企、上市公司和民企。

徐芳达认为，双方还能开启更多合作契机；天津是京津冀地区的关键节点，在先进制造业、创新和供应链管理方面具有优势。

“我们可以在这些优势的基础上，在绿色发展、先进制造、人工智能、城市解决方案和现代服务业等领域深化合作，创造新机遇。”

徐芳达透露，他已向滨海新区区委书记连茂君提议，双方可在新加坡举办投资促进论坛，将天津推广为投资目的地，不仅面向新加坡企业，也面向东南亚企业。

《天津日报》引述陈敏尔和张工指出，天津愿与新加坡深化对接沟通，用好新津理事会等平台，聚焦绿色低碳发展，统筹走出去和引进来，促进产业、项目、要素等资源导入，推动先进制造业和现代服务业深度融合，共同打造国家绿色发展示范区升级版，全面加强经济贸易、科技创新、文旅康养、教育人文等领域交流合作。

访津期间，徐芳达也参观了生态城，并与目前获得新加坡科技设计大学研究与创新中心支持的新加坡初创企业会面。他也参观了南洋艺术学院与天津美术学院在生态城联办的展览。

访津之后，徐芳达星期四晚上续程到北京出席“绿智未来”可持续发展全球挑战赛（Green Future Innovation Challenge，简称GFIC）启动仪式。

这场公益品牌绿色科技创业大赛，由淡马锡基金会与祥峰中国联合发起，面向全球征集可持续发展领域创新性技术解决方案，从2018年在新加坡开始举办，拓展至印度尼西亚、日本等国家，在全球绿色技术创新领域具有一定影响力。

GFIC去年首次在中国举办，吸引来自70多个国家和地区的1000多个项目参与。今年的挑战赛以“科技创新助力可持续发展”为核心，将围绕能源转型、降污减排、绿色农业、数绿融合、绿色生物制造等方向，推动可持续解决方案从技术验证走向规模化应用。

徐芳达致辞时肯定GFIC汇聚全球绿色创新力量的平台价值，期待赛事持续深化新中两国在可持续发展与气候科技领域的交流合作。中共北京市委常委、常务副市长夏林茂则指出，本届挑战赛既是展示绿色技术成果的窗口，也是北京建设国际科技创新中心、推进绿色低碳转型的重要纽带。

跨领域协作为病患排忧解难 苏心怡与陈礼国医生获全国医学卓越奖

2026年9月17日 23:34 / 联合早报

• 眼科医生苏心怡与妇产科医生陈礼国通过跨专业协作为病患排忧解难，星期四获颁今年全国医学卓越奖。 – 苏心怡与新科研专家合作十年，开发出全球首个用于再生玻璃体的可注射生物材料，有望让视网膜手术更安全。 – 陈礼国带领至少11名不同领域医生推出一站式高风险妇产科中心，省去患病孕妇找不同医生看诊的麻烦。 – 王乙康致辞说，卓越的临床医术还包括拥有好奇心、教书育人指导下一代，以及带领团队为患者提供更好关护。

9月17日晚，社会政策统筹部长兼保健卫生部长王乙康（前排中）和国大医院眼科高级顾问医生苏心怡副教授（前排右一）、竹脚妇幼医院孕妇胎儿医学主任兼资深顾问医生陈礼国副教授（后排左二）等全国医学卓越奖获得者合影。 （蔡家增摄）

眼科医生苏心怡和妇产科医生陈礼国，虽然来自不同医院的不同科室，但都通过跨专业协作为病患排忧解难。

新加坡国立大学医院眼科高级顾问医生苏心怡副教授，10年前开始和新加坡科技研究局的材料专家合作，开发出全球首个用于再生玻璃体的可注射生物材料，有望让视网膜病患的手术更安全、术后恢复也更顺畅。

竹脚妇幼医院孕妇胎儿医学主任兼资深顾问医生陈礼国副教授，从2021年初开始带领至少11名不同领域的医生，推出一站式高风险妇产科中心，省去患有疾病的孕妇找不同医生看诊的麻烦。

苏心怡和陈礼国带领的团队，以及另外六人和一个团队，星期四（9月17日）荣获今年全国医学卓越奖，并从社会政策统筹部长兼保健卫生部长王乙康的手里接过奖项。

这个年度奖项从2008年起颁发，用来表彰杰出的临床医生、临床科学家及其他医疗专业人员，肯定他们在推动医疗发展、提升患者安全标准、促进研究与教育，以及改善社区健康方面取得的成就。

王乙康在颁奖活动上致辞说，卓越的临床医术，不只是娴熟的技能、敏锐的思维，以及良好的判断力。“它还包括始终拥有好奇心、在专业上更进一步、教书育人指导下一代，以及与他人一道带领团队共同为患者提供更好的关护。”

跨领域磨合10年 新材料望造福视网膜治疗患者

获得全国卓越临床科学家奖的苏心怡接受《联合早报》访问时说，医生在做部分视网膜治疗时有时须要替换相连的玻璃体，若用传统替换材料，患者往往术后三个星期到三个月才能看得清，或者须再做手术去除多余材料。

9月17日晚上，国大医院眼科高级顾问医生苏心怡副教授（左），从社会政策统筹部长兼保健卫生部长王乙康手里接过全国卓越临床科学家奖。（蔡家增摄）

于是，她和新科研材料研究与工程研究院院长罗贤俊教授联手开发新材料。不过，这种跨领域的合作并不容易，双方经过了10年的磨合，估计还要用三到五年时间才有望用于人体。

“起初，我需要向他讲解眼睛的基本结构和功能，他则要为我解释合成一种新材料并不像一加一等于二那么简单。”

整合多方专科医生 为孕妇提供一站式服务

与跨领域专家合作，对于带队荣获全国卓越临床医学团队奖的陈礼国来说也很重要。他带领的一站式高风险妇产科中心，包括来自新加坡中央医院、陈笃生医院和盛港综合医院等机构的专科医生，为患有糖尿病等疾病的孕妇提供一站式服务。

竹脚妇幼医院孕妇胎儿医学主任兼资深顾问医生陈礼国副教授（左二）带领的一站式高风险妇产科中心团队，从社会政策统筹部长兼保健卫生部长王乙康（中间）手里，接过全国卓越临床医学团队奖。（蔡家增摄）

“许多专家在他们各自的医院都有繁忙的看诊任务，我们不断与他们沟通，若遇工作冲突就及时调整医生，确保中心每周正常运行。”

他说，中心的就诊人次从2021年的约4000人次，增加到2025年的约4600人次，增幅约15%，既说明服务范围在扩大，又反映了相关医疗需求的增加。

获颁全国卓越临床医生导师奖的新加坡国家心脏中心蔡翔仁教授也正是在充满支持的大环境下，一步步累积出经验和成就。他数十年来通过分享经验和学识，塑造和培养新一代医疗专才。

这也是他第二次获颁全国医学卓越奖，他曾在2013年获得全国卓越临床医生奖。

也是新加坡国家心脏中心高级顾问医生的他受访说，推行导师制是我国医疗体系正积极倡导的工作，让年轻医生在高压的工作环境中能获得必要的指导与支持。

新加坡国家心脏中心高级顾问医生蔡翔仁教授（左），从社会政策统筹部长兼保健卫生部长王乙康手里，接过全国卓越临床医生导师奖。（蔡家增摄）

“这个世界变化得太快，我们过去那些固有的经验和假设，可能已经不再适用。指导后辈时，重要的是去了解他们的目标是什么，我们必须愿意倾听，同时试着给一些建议，引导他们在这个体系中找准前行的方向。”

这个年度奖项的其他获奖者包括：盛港综合医院行政总裁张荣强教授（全国卓越临床医生奖）、新加坡国立癌症中心耶尔（N. Gopalakrishna Iyer，全国卓越临床科学家奖）、邱德拔医院彭荣新教授（全国卓越临床医生导师奖）、国大医院倪敏恩副教授和新加坡国立脑神经医学院陈启敏副教授（全国卓越临床医生教育家奖），以及竹脚妇幼医院团队（全国卓越社区护理团队奖）。

森州原任严端反击 希盟指责欺君 巫统进退两难

2026年9月17日 23:51 / 联合早报

• 马国律政署发文告强调，今年4月19日罢黜森州严端慕力兹的文件无效，因程序未遵守《森州宪法》规定。 – 希盟多名领袖指责森州行政议员欺君应辞职；巫统籍大臣承认议会同意罢黜，但未反击希盟指责。 – 司法及酋长理事会发律师信指宣布褫夺王位形同政变，并称该宣布违反芙蓉高庭6月5日的禁制令。 – 受访分析员指出政党斗争渗入宫廷风波让问题更复杂，但认为此事对希盟与国阵关系影响不大。

马来西亚森美兰州大臣依斯迈拉欣星期四（9月17日）证实，州行政议会发布同意罢黜森州严端慕力兹的文告前，曾开会讨论并一致同意。 （马新社）

马来西亚森美兰州宫廷风波愈演愈烈。遭罢黜的原任州最高统治者（又称严端）慕力兹领头的森州司法及酋长理事会向州政府发出律师信，指行政议会宣布褫夺慕力兹王位形同政变。

马国律政署星期四（9月17日）发文告强调，今年4月19日涉及罢黜慕力兹的文件无效，因为有关程序并未遵守《森州宪法》的规定。

这是马国联邦团结政府首次针对罢黜严端行动表明立场。律政署说，森州大臣和州行政议会无权单方面罢免严端，相关事宜须通过宪法及法律程序来决定，尤其必须符合《森州宪法》。

团结政府主要成员希望联盟多名领袖则指责森州行政议员欺君，应辞职谢罪。

备受压力的巫统籍森州大臣依斯迈拉欣神隐两天后，星期四出面低调承认，州行政议会一致同意罢黜慕力兹，但并未反击希盟的指责，也不愿多谈此事。他此前声称自己被迫签署同意罢黜慕力兹的文件。

受访分析员指出，巫统为首的国民阵线与希盟的政党斗争因素继续渗入森州宫廷风波，只会让问题更复杂难解。不过，巫统与希盟早已疏离，此事对双方的关系影响不大，反而是巫统之前曾指责前任希盟森州政府干预森州王室事务，如今是作茧自缚，进退失据。

森州10名行政议员星期三（16日）联署发表联合文告，宣布森州四大酋长今年4月19日签署及盖章的褫夺慕力兹王位声明即日起正式生效，并由已故前任严端东姑查化之子纳扎鲁丁接任成为新严端。

主管森州习俗法的司法及酋长理事会代表律师隔天发文告，批评森州行政议员此举等同发动政变及叛国，应根据《刑事法典》及相关法律受到惩处。文告也强调，慕力兹仍是合法的森州严端。

文告指出，不管是森州大臣、州行政议会、州政府秘书及州法律顾问，均无权作出上述宣布。同时，有关宣布已违反芙蓉高庭6月5日发出的禁制令，构成藐视法庭罪。这项禁制令禁止四大酋长及另外两人，就司法及酋长理事会的行政、治理、程序、权力及事务采取任何行动或作出任何决定。

支持慕力兹的前希盟森州大臣阿米努丁则说，四大酋长曾提交罢黜慕力兹的“419宣言”给他签署，但他当时基于相关程序及法律依据存在问题，拒绝签署。

阿米努丁号召民众星期四晚间前往吉隆坡国际机场，迎接回国的慕力兹以示支持。慕力兹事发时人在国外，他周四晚搭机返马应对此事，大批支持者与民众前往机场接机声援他。

这场宫廷风波已演变成宪政危机。澳大利亚塔斯马尼亚大学亚洲研究院院长詹运豪接受《联合早报》访问时说，森州巫统此前挑起此事，借此拉下希盟森州政府，如今反而夹在新王和旧王之间，可说是引火自焚。

他认为，森州宫廷风波扯上政党斗争并非好事，因为这只会让问题更错综复杂。

马国拉曼大学国际关系与政治学助理教授刘惟诚分析说，根据森州行政议会宣布罢黜严端的文告，现任大臣与州行政议员之前其实是向所谓“不合法”的严端宣誓，但这未必会导致州政府垮台。

他解释说，这是因为四大酋长罢黜严端的法定程序，并没有明确公开相关日期与参与者，因此不符合州宪法及习俗法的规定。

他也认为，罢黜行动对希盟与国阵的关系影响不大，影响较大的反而是巫统与森州王室的关系。

他还说，如今希盟可大打“保王牌”，突显巫统为了掌权而忤逆君主，这对希盟面对来临的马六甲州选而言是有利的。

至于此事会否影响刚在8月份举行的森州选举的合法性，新加坡国际事务研究所高级研究员胡逸山说：“即使上届州议会的解散和州选的进行，可能由于严端的身份而有合法性的争议，但森州过后确实依法举行州选，并选出现任州议员和州政府。”

他强调，根据威斯敏斯特式议会制度的精神，经过合法选举洗礼的政府就是合法的政府。

Pennsylvania asks for CDC help on measles outbreak, demands agency recognize measles deaths

2026-09-17T13:15:20.906Z / Reuters

A sign of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is seen on a podium during the meeting of the members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. June 25, 2025. REUTERS/Megan Varner Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) – The Pennsylvania health department said it was requesting emergency support from the US CDC as it ‌grapples with one of the country’s largest and most deadly measles outbreaks, according to a document reviewed by Reuters on Thursday.

The request comes on condition that the federal agency recognize four measles-associated deaths reported by the state, raising the stakes in a dispute with the Trump administration.

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The state’s measles outbreak has become the focus of a standoff between U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and ​Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat. Kennedy has cast doubt on whether deaths reported in U.S. measles outbreaks since he took office were due to the virus ​or another cause, and instructed the CDC not to include the Pennsylvania fatalities in a national tally.

Disease experts say the move represented ⁠highly unusual interference by a health secretary in the determination by state health officials and could minimize the risks of measles in the eyes of the public. Kennedy ​has accused Shapiro of politicizing the outbreak in his state and of failing to request federal help.

CDC officials were not immediately available for comment.

In a letter sent to Centers ​for Disease Control and Prevention director Erica Schwartz on Wednesday evening, reviewed by Reuters, Pennsylvania secretary of health Debra Bogen said the state had begun the process to request emergency assistance from the CDC, known as Epi-Aid.

“The CDC’s choice not to publicly recognize the deaths undermines our response,” Bogen wrote. “For this reason, if CDC is unable to transparently and accurately communicate information about those measles-associated deaths, ​the Department will respectfully rescind our request for a CDC Epi-Aid.”

The request from the state health department comes after it had resisted CDC help, arguing it had the ​outbreak under control.

GROWING OUTBREAK

Pennsylvania’s outbreak has since ballooned, growing to more than 700 confirmed cases across 37 counties and four measles-associated deaths, according to the state health department. It is the ‌latest state to ⁠grapple with the worst U.S. resurgence of measles in more than three decades, fueled by rising vaccine hesitancy, and coincides with President Donald Trump’s return to office in early 2025.

Shapiro has criticized Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine activist who has promoted policies to reduce U.S. childhood immunization, for amplifying public fears about vaccines without scientific evidence. Kennedy and Schwartz have blamed Shapiro for not accepting their offers of Epi-Aid, a form of short-term CDC assistance during public health emergencies. The agency sends experts to the site of a ​disease outbreak, typically for one to three ​weeks, to provide additional support to ⁠state and local health departments.

When the Pennsylvania health department announced the first two measles-associated fatalities on August 25, the disease had sickened 393 people across 28 counties. Shapiro praised his health department’s efforts to vaccinate more people, and the state health department declined ​to ask the CDC to send personnel to help on the ground.

The Pennsylvania health department, like other state health departments, ​has CDC career staff who ⁠are permanently assigned to assist the agency and have assisted in the outbreak. CDC Epi-Aid would mark an additional form of federal assistance.

The disease has since spread and the pace of new infections has accelerated. One of the fatalities announced this week occurred in Mifflin County, which now has the second highest number of cases in the state and is ⁠located over 100 ​miles from the outbreak’s initial epicenter in Lancaster County.

At the same time, the pace of measles ​vaccinations provided by the state appears to be slowing, according to health department data. In August, the health department administered over 3,500 doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which provides 97% protection against infection ​after two doses. For the first half of September, that number dropped to around 1,100 doses.

Reporting by Yasmeen Abutaleb and Dan Levine; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Nick Zieminski

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Powerful teachers’ unions share striking link with states struggling to teach kids to read

2026-09-17T11:30:58-04:00 / Fox News

The Progressive Policy Institute found eight of the ten lowest-scoring states for reading had strong labor unions

By Robert Schmad Fox News

Published September 17, 2026 11:30am EDT

Mississippi surges nationally in reading scores

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves discusses the state’s dramatic rise in national education rankings, detailing the key literacy and reading reforms behind the success. Reeves credits the state’s structured literacy laws and focused reading programs for transforming the educational system.

States with stronger teachers’ unions tend to have weaker literacy performance and have adopted fewer of the policies credited with improving reading outcomes, according to a new analysis from a center-left think tank.

Eight of the ten states to score among the worst in the Progressive Policy Institute’s (PPI) assessment of early-literacy policies were home to powerful teachers’ unions. Among the top 60% of states in terms of early-literacy policy scores, only four had strong teachers’ unions.

Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina and Indiana, all Republican leaning states with weak unions, were among the states with the best literacy outcomes. Maine, New York, Illinois, Hawaii, Washington and Rhode Island, blue states, were among the worst.

ARKANSAS STUDENTS OUTPERFORM NATIONAL AVERAGE AFTER UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE EXPANSION, GOVERNOR SAYS

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, speaks during a rally outside of the US Department of Education headquarters in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, March 13, 2025. President Donald Trump was sued by a group of mostly Democratic-led states over his alleged plan to effectively dismantle the US Education Department by slashing its workforce in half.(Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The pattern isn’t universal. Maryland, a blue state with a strong teachers’ union, has posted strong reading results, while South Dakota, a red state with a weaker union, has struggled. The differences suggest union strength and party control alone don’t explain states’ reading performance.

Rachel Canter, PPI’s director of education policy, conducted the analysis with colleagues by comparing teacher-union strength rankings with states’ early-literacy policy scores. Canter is also one of the people behind the slate of educational reforms in Mississippi that propelled the state from among the worst in the country for educational outcomes to among the best.

“Democrats, however, don’t often ask me how to replicate Mississippi’s success,” Canter said. “They ask if it’s possible at all, given the power of teachers’ unions in their home states.”

Teachers’ unions, according to Canter, exert massive amounts of influence over both educational policies and how those policies are implemented in the classroom. This can make schools in states with stronger unions slower to adapt to challenges or to adopt new, better methods.

TEACHERS UNION FACING YEARS OF DEFICITS SEEKS TO BECOME OREGON’S LARGEST PAC, INTERNAL DOCUMENTS SHOW

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, speaks during the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Aug. 22, 2024.(David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Mississippi’s reforms, among other things, added kindergarten-through-third-grade screenings, literacy coaches, individual reading plans and held back third graders who failed the state reading test. The state reinforced those measures with science-based reading instruction, increased teacher training and tougher licensing requirements.

Tweaks to teaching like these can be difficult to achieve in states with influential teachers’ unions, with labor reps arguing that the changes place undue burdens on educators.

ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BUCKS TEACHERS’ UNIONS IN SUPPORT FOR STATEWIDE CLASSROOM PHONE BAN

Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jackson Potter speaks at a rally outside Chicago Public Schools headquarters, Feb. 26, 2026.(Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Many of the states that underperformed in the Progressive Policy Institute’s study also have Democratic leadership. Teachers’ unions spend hundreds of millions of dollars every electoral cycle on electing Democrats and pushing left-of-center policies.

“States dominated by Democrats have been slower to embrace similar reforms,” Canter said. “Organized labor might explain some of this gap.”

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Multiple GOP-led Southern states have adopted educational reforms similar to those introduced in Mississippi. Those same states dominated the Progressive Policy Institute’s rankings of the states with the best student literacy.

欧盟拟禁未满13岁儿童使用社交媒体

2026年9月17日 20:24 / 联合早报

欧盟委员会主席冯德莱恩星期四（9月17日）提出《欧盟儿童法案》，拟禁止未满13岁儿童使用社交媒体，13至15岁儿童的社交媒体账号则须受家长监管。 （路透社示意图）

欧盟委员会主席冯德莱恩星期四（9月17日）提出一项广泛的儿童网络安全计划，拟禁止未满13岁儿童使用社交媒体，并要求网络服务商为儿童设计更安全的账户。

路透社报道，根据拟议的《欧盟儿童法案》，13至15岁儿童的社交媒体账号须受家长监管。社交媒体、视频分享平台、网络游戏，以及面向18岁以下人群的人工智能（AI）聊天机器人和伴侣服务，也将受到更严格限制。

这些规定包括禁止成瘾性的功能、基于用户画像推送内容、无限滚动功能及诱导奖励机制，并限制陌生人主动联系儿童。AI聊天机器人则须默认关闭。

平台还须通过年龄验证工具确认用户年龄，并提供家长控制及屏蔽、静音用户等功能。违规企业最高可面临相当于全球年营业额6%的罚款，并须缴付监管费用，用于资助监管机构的监督工作。

不过，科技游说团体 CCIA Europe警告称，大规模收集儿童年龄、身份及家长资料可能增加隐私泄露和网络犯罪的风险，并可能与其他欧盟法规产生重叠。

欧盟拟禁未满13岁儿童使用社交媒体

2026年9月17日 20:24 / 联合早报

欧盟委员会主席冯德莱恩星期四（9月17日）提出《欧盟儿童法案》，拟禁止未满13岁儿童使用社交媒体，13至15岁儿童的社交媒体账号则须受家长监管。 （路透社示意图）

欧盟委员会主席冯德莱恩星期四（9月17日）提出一项广泛的儿童网络安全计划，拟禁止未满13岁儿童使用社交媒体，并要求网络服务商为儿童设计更安全的账户。

路透社报道，根据拟议的《欧盟儿童法案》，13至15岁儿童的社交媒体账号须受家长监管。社交媒体、视频分享平台、网络游戏，以及面向18岁以下人群的人工智能（AI）聊天机器人和伴侣服务，也将受到更严格限制。

这些规定包括禁止成瘾性的功能、基于用户画像推送内容、无限滚动功能及诱导奖励机制，并限制陌生人主动联系儿童。AI聊天机器人则须默认关闭。

平台还须通过年龄验证工具确认用户年龄，并提供家长控制及屏蔽、静音用户等功能。违规企业最高可面临相当于全球年营业额6%的罚款，并须缴付监管费用，用于资助监管机构的监督工作。

不过，科技游说团体 CCIA Europe警告称，大规模收集儿童年龄、身份及家长资料可能增加隐私泄露和网络犯罪的风险，并可能与其他欧盟法规产生重叠。

US Health Secretary Kennedy Jr. adds eight new members to key health panel

September 17, 2026 3:22 PM UTC / Reuters

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during an event on screen time harm in children at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 1, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci/File Photo

Sept 17 (Reuters) – Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. named eight new members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the committee ​that decides which preventive medical care should be provided to ‌patients free of charge, on Thursday.

The Preventive Services Task Force, which typically holds three annual meetings and has 16 members, last met a year ago.

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Kennedy Jr. has reshaped ​several federal health advisory bodies, including the CDC’s vaccine advisory ​committee, replacing its members after dismissing the entire panel last ⁠year.

A US Supreme Court decision affirmed Kennedy Jr.’s authority over the preventive ​care committee last June. The panel’s November meeting following the judgment did ​not take place due to a government shutdown in 2025.

The US Department of Health and Human Services abruptly canceled another meeting, set for July last year. Kennedy ​Jr. removed the chair and vice chair of the influential task ​force this May.

A meeting in March was also postponed. The HHS did not immediately ‌respond ⁠to a Reuters request for comment on when the panel will convene next.

The new members include pediatric hematologist-oncologist Seth Corey, pediatrician Patrick Hunter and cardiovascular expert Ronald Karlsberg. Stephen Parente, who works in health finance, ​has also joined ​the panel.

Professor of ⁠preventive cardiology Venkatesh Murthy, family medicine physician Goldie Stands-Over-Bull, Louis Wilson, a gastroenterology specialist, and Dennis Wulfeck, a ​diagnostic radiologist, were also named members.

The committee is responsible ​for ⁠deciding which medical tests and treatments, such as routine breast cancer screening or drugs to prevent HIV infection, need to be provided at no cost under most ⁠health ​insurance plans.

The panel, comprising an independent group of volunteer ​experts, relies on support from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare ​Research and Quality.

blob:https://www.reuters.com/54bcca97-a5e2-4e84-b281-88b34d4b433e

Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai

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