Public Affairs

Public Affairs • September 25, 2026

Four regional NHS integrated care boards across England have introduced mandatory two-year minimum waiting periods for ADHD and autism assessments to curb surging costs and balance local budgets. The measures form part of a broader rationing effort across 15 health boards covering 19 million people, sparking warnings from charities and clinicians that prolonged delays will harm educational outcomes and exacerbate mental health crises. The rationing policies emerge alongside government deliberations over an unreleased, 700-page review examining soaring clinical demand and the health service's capacity.

Public Affairs • September 25, 2026

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a pointed warning on Thursday, arguing that the court's frequent emergency orders bypass normal appellate review and inflict lasting institutional damage. Speaking at the University of the District of Columbia School of Law, Jackson questioned why certain litigants receive a fast pass to the high court while lower judges are stripped of their authority. The sharp critique arrives amid heightened scrutiny over unexplained emergency interventions that have repeatedly cleared the way for contentious federal executive policies.

Public Affairs • September 23, 2026

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker delivered a pointed Senate floor rebuke of President Donald Trump's lavish diplomatic welcome for Chinese President Xi Jinping. The clash highlights mounting friction between Capitol Hill defense hawks and the administration over bilateral negotiations on trade, artificial intelligence, and regional security.

Public Affairs • September 17, 2026

The House approved the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in a 262 to 159 vote, sending the sweeping economic package to President Donald Trump. The legislation mandates penalties on Moscow's financial system and dark-fleet shipping while granting broad authority to levy tariffs of up to 100 percent on top buyers of Russian oil and gas. Democratic leaders fought the measure over concerns regarding unchecked presidential tariff authority, but dozens of defectors helped secure final passage before the pre-election recess.

Public Affairs • July 4, 2026

A European politician, Stelios Kouloglou, had his iPhone repeatedly compromised by NSO Group's Pegasus spyware while serving on an EU committee investigating spyware abuses. The attacks occurred during critical periods of the committee's work, raising significant concerns about the integrity of democratic oversight and the rule of law. This marks the first publicly identified instance of a member of the European Parliament's PEGA Committee being targeted with the very surveillance tool they were scrutinizing.

Public Affairs • June 7, 2026

Sriram Krishnan is stepping down from his position as White House senior policy advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the end of June. He plans to launch a new institution to continue influencing AI policy, maintaining an active role in the Trump administration's approach to the technology. Krishnan's departure follows an impactful 18-month tenure where he was central to the administration's pro-industry AI policies.