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Insight News • September 07, 2026 - September 13, 2026 • Page 1
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INSIGHT NEWS WON THE MESSENGER AWARDS 2024 F OR THIRD PLACE IN WEBSITE EXCELLENCE, THIRD PLACE IN LAYOUT & DESIGN AND FIRS T PLACE F OR NEWSLETTER EXCELLENCE.
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Vol. 53 No. 36 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
VIEUX FARKA TOURÉ
The Hendrix of the Sahara
V
ieux Farka Touré, often called “The Hendrix of the Sahara”, hails from Niafunké, Mali. He is the son of legendary Malian guitar player Ali Farka Touré, who died in 2006. Ali came from a historical tribe of soldiers and defied his parents by becoming a musician. Thus, when Vieux reached his teens, he declared that he also wanted to be a musician. However, his father
disapproved because of the pressures he had experienced as a musician. Rather, he wanted Vieux to become a soldier. Vieux eventually convinced his father to give him his blessing to pursue music shortly before Ali passed. Initially, Vieux played drums and calabash at Mali’s Institut National des Arts, but he secretly began playing guitar in 2001. When Vieux announced plans to record an
album, cancer had already weakened Ali Farka Touré. Ali recorded a couple of tracks with him. There, those recordings, which appear on Vieux’s debut CD, rank among Ali’s final ones. When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020 and all touring ground to a halt, Vieux stayed focused on his craft at home. He worked tirelessly in the studio he built at his family’s compound.
The resulting album, 2022’s Les Racines, finds Vieux returning to his deep roots. Here, he explores the desert blues music that he spent most of his career experimenting with and expanding. In 2022 Vieux and Houston-based psych-rock superstars Khruangbin released a long-awaited collaborative album. Sir Elton John called it “one of the albums of the year – absolutely wonderful music.”
With each new project Vieux broadens his horizons, embraces new challenges and further entrenches his reputation as one of the world’s most talented and innovative musicians. Vieux performs 7pm Wed., Sept. 30, 2026 at Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis, Recommended for fans of Ali Farka Touré, Tinariwen, Cheikh Lô and Khruangbin.
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Insight News • September 07, 2026 - September 13, 2026 • Page 3
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Vol. 53 No. 36 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
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Labor votes: Discontent will accompany blue‑collar voters to the polls in the midterms By Robert Forrant Professor of U.S. History and Labor Studies, UMass Lowell Credit: SKY 11
Three dead, officers wounded in Loring Park high-rise mass shooting Editor
By Al McFarlane A mass shooting inside a highrise apartment building in Minneapolis' Loring Park neighborhood left three people dead, including the suspected shooter, and injured several others, including three Minneapolis police officers, according to statements issued by city and county officials through the evening of Sept. 2. Minneapolis police were dispatched to 15 E. Grant St. at approximately 4:36 p.m. Sept. 2 after an initial report that one person had been shot. Additional 911 callers reported more gunfire. Officers began arriving
at about 4:39 p.m., entered the building, encountered victims and heard additional gunfire, according to a City of Minneapolis public safety update issued at 7:11 p.m. Council Member Elizabeth Shaffer said officers followed the sound of gunfire to an upper floor, where they encountered a haze that significantly limited visibility. Three officers were injured, two by gunfire. Council Member Soren Stevenson later reported that all three officers were taken to Hennepin Healthcare. One had an apparent non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg, another was undergoing surgery, and the third was being evaluated for an apparent non-life-threatening injury. Council Member Aurin Chowdhury reported that the suspected shooter and another person died at the scene. Seven others were transported to Hennepin Healthcare, where
one later died, Chowdhury said; the update did not say whether the wounded officers were among the seven. That brought the reported death toll to three, including the suspected shooter. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said her office had limited information but described the shooting as a “terrible and shocking attack with numerous victims.” She said the County Attorney's Office was working with the Minneapolis Police Department and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to gather information. City Council members issued statements throughout the evening. Council President Elliott Payne called the shooting at Shoreline Plaza apartments a tragedy and said multiple community members were killed and more were shot, including Minneapolis police officers. Council Member Rob-
in Wonsley described the incident as a mass shooting involving several victims, including officers. Stevenson said there were three fatalities, including the shooter. Multiple law enforcement agencies provided mutual aid. Shaffer identified the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Metro Transit Police Department, University of Minnesota Police Department, St. Paul Police Department, Edina Police Department and Plymouth Police Department among the responding agencies. A family reunification site was established at Central Lutheran Church, 333 12th St. S., according to Council Member Jason Chavez. As of late Sept. 2, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner had not released the identities of the deceased or an official cause and manner of death for the suspected shooter.
When union workers and their families gather this Labor Day, some may ponder Ronald Reagan’s memorable refrain, “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” All workers – unionized or not – are dealing with higher prices for food and gasoline. For America’s unionized workforce, the overall state of the economy is bleak. Threats from AI and robotics abound. Pledges by U.S. and international corporations to invest in new plants remain largely pledges. The roughly 400,000 federal job cuts during President Donald Trump’s second term have disrupted lives. Many of these jobs were previously represented by labor unions. As a labor studies scholar, I believe weariness and wariness will accompany
blue-collar voters to the polls in November. As such, the candidates who have practical ideas for turning the economy around and exhibit empathy for Americans worried about how to pay their bills could receive the bulk of the union vote.
The union vote
Over generations, the majority of union members have sided with Democratic candidates, even if that support has wavered since the 1970s. The 2024 presidential campaign was no exception. The majority of union members voted for Democratic candidates, but at a far lower rate than in the 1960s. Why does this matter in 2026? Union voters play a bigger role in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Nevada, three swing states where the share of voters who belong to unions is above the national average of 10%. In closely contested House and Senate races, even a
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What to do if your vote is challenged: Practical advice for midterm elections
Racial healing starts with honest conversations Families, educators, and mental health experts say affirming identity helps young people process racism without internalizing harm. As a child, Jacinay Coleman-Shelton struggled to understand her racial identity, but her curiosity often led her to ask outspoken questions when racial issues arose. Shelton, of both Black and Hispanic heritage, found navigating discussions about race especially complicated. “Having a space to talk to your family first about race is really important,” the 22-year-old says. “I was always taught that being Black is beautiful.” The news mainstream media just doesn’t cover. Racial justice journalism since 1909. That early messaging became a foundation — one that helped her affirm who she was before the world tried to define her. While interning on Capitol Hill this past summer, Shelton recalled those words as she walked through the nation’s halls of power. “I’m going to walk through these halls, my heels are going to click-clack, and this is who I am,” she told herself. Shelton’s experience
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By Karen FigueroaClewett Lecturer, Agents of Change program, Department of Political Science and International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
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reflects a growing understanding among mental health professionals and educators: conversations about race aren’t just preparation for bias or discrimination. They can also be a form of racial healing — helping young people process racism without internalizing harm, and affirming their identity in a society where Black youth encounter racism early and repeatedly. Family Conversations: The Foundation for Healing Her family, Shelton believes, gave her the confi-
dence to approach conversations about race with an open mind and heart, and she says young people should be taught to do the same. “What’s really important is affirming their identity every chance you get,” says Dr. Matthew S. L. Duncan, a fourth-year psychiatry resident at Ocean University Medical Center in New Jersey. Duncan began his public health career at the Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness and in the Family Medicine Department at
Rutgers Medical School. Born and raised in North Jersey to West Indian parents, Duncan learned early the importance of community strength and giving back. Those values now fuel his work, which focuses on making mental health care more accessible, culturally relevant, and stigma-free. Understanding Racial Trauma Duncan advocates proactive conversations about
HEALING
I2H
‘Must I take all my antibiotics?’ Why infectious disease experts are rethinking this longstanding rule
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As the 2026 midterm elections enter the final stretch, it’s important to know your rights in case your vote is challenged. The best way to ensure that your vote is counted is to advocate for yourself. I’m a an attorney and lecturer for the University of Southern California’s undergraduate civil rights advocacy initiative, Agents of Change. Here are several straightforward ways to ensure your vote is counted and two practical remedies for you to consider if your vote remains challenged. A major part of ensuring that you are able to vote is doing the necessary prepara-
tion before you even get to the polling place. Read on to find out how and where to register, where and when you can cast your ballot, and what numbers to call for any information you can’t find online.
Are you registered to vote? Check it out
Before you vote, you need to ensure that you’re registered to vote. You can verify your registration status using this tool. If you can’t use an online tool, then call your local election office or a voter help line like the ones listed in the hotline section below. If you find you’re not registered, you can use this tool from the National Conference of State Legislatures to find your state’s online registration application. If you need to do this in person, then call your local election office for instructions. At this point, you may have missed your state’s
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Business
The US has struck a deal to control Venezuela’s oil reserves. It probably won’t help bring down fuel prices
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Commentary Young Black men suffering in silence a curse that can be broken By Dominic Boston As a young Black man, this topic is personal to me. When people discuss mental health, they usually don’t picture someone who looks like me. Instead, Black men are often seen as strong, tough, or able to handle anything life throws at us. Growing up, I was taught exactly that. My elders always told me to be strong. If I got hurt, I was told to get back up. If I was upset, I was told not to cry. Showing emotion wasn’t encouraged. It was seen as a weakness. Looking back now, I realize I wasn’t just being taught how to be a man. I was being conditioned to hide my emotions. I was taught to believe that strength meant staying silent, no matter how much pain I was carrying. I know my family wasn’t trying to hurt me. They wanted me to survive in a world that has never been easy for Black men. They wanted me to be prepared for life’s challenges. But somewhere along the way, being strong became confused with pretending everything was okay. Instead of talking about our feelings, we learned how to bury them. Instead of asking for help, we learned how to deal with everything on our own. The problem is that emotions don’t disappear just because you ignore them. They stay with you, and eventually,
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they find another way to come out. I believe that is the reality for many young Black men today. We’re expected to carry the weight of our families, our communities, our schools, our work, and our lives without ever breaking down. People admire our strength, but they rarely ask how much it costs to always be strong. The truth is, many of us are hurting in silence because we’ve spent our entire lives believing that is what real men are supposed to do. For many Black boys, those lessons start early. Some grow up in neighborhoods where hearing gunshots or seeing police lights is normal. Others lose friends or family members before they are even old enough to understand why. Some are raised in com-
munities where violence, poverty, and limited opportunities are part of everyday life. When you’re constantly worried about making it home safely or helping your family make ends meet, you don’t always have time to process your emotions. You focus on surviving. Then there is the way society sees us. Before some people even hear us speak, they have already made assumptions. Many Black men know what it feels like to be watched while shopping, stereotyped because of the clothes they wear, or judged simply because they are Black. On top of that, many of us grow up having conversations with our parents about how to act if we are ever stopped by the police.
We aren’t taught those lessons because our parents don’t trust us. We are taught them because our parents are afraid of what could happen if someone else doesn’t see our humanity. Living with that kind of pressure affects your mental health, whether people realize it or not. Constantly feeling like you have to prove you are not a threat is exhausting. Always feeling like you have to be perfect just to be treated fairly takes a toll. Those experiences create anxiety, fear, and stress that many young Black men carry every single day, even if they never talk about it. I also think these experiences help explain why some young Black men feel disconnected from politics and voting.
Michael Jackson would have turned 68. In Las Vegas, his music is filling the room again Michael without an impersonator
Credit: Matthew Rolston; Distributed by Epic Records
Michael Jackson in a press photo dated to 1983 Las Vegas turns up the music to celebrate Michael Jackson’s birthday. The lights go out, the theater goes dark, and then that unmistakable voice fills the room, even before the song begins. Suddenly, Michael Jackson feels larger than life once more. His image appears above the Las Vegas stage while dancers perform moves inspired by him, acrobats spin through the air, and his decades-old music fills a theater designed for it. Now, 64 drones fly overhead, and nine new LED panels light up the room with images. Jackson died 17 years ago. He would have turned 68 on August 29. At Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, the Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil are planning a birthday celebration at a special time: Michael Jackson is having another big year. The biographical film Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, has made over $1 billion worldwide. It is now the highest-grossing biopic and music biopic ever and the biggest film in Lionsgate’s history. The mov-
ie opened in late April with $97 million in the U.S. and $217 million worldwide, making it the largest global debut for a musical biopic. Alana Clapp, general manager of Michael Jackson ONE, thinks the movie’s success is bringing longtime Jackson fans back with new excitement and introducing him to a new generation who never saw him perform. “We’re seeing such a wonderful movement right now with Michael Jackson and old fans that are coming together to celebrate his legacy and his stature in pop culture,” Clapp told The Black Press. “I think a lot of that is obviously driven by the success of the biopic that’s come out recently.” That energy is making this year’s birthday celebration feel different. “We’re lucky enough in Las Vegas to have a show that can continue to celebrate everything that he has done as a performer and as an entertainer in today’s world,” Clapp said.
A one-time birthday surprise
The Aug. 29 celebration begins at 12:30 p.m. with the sixth annual fan reception in the lobby of the Michael Jackson ONE
Theater for ticketholders to either the 6:30 or 9 p.m. show. At 2 p.m., the theater opens to everyone. A question-and-answer session with special guests chosen by Jackson’s Estate starts at 2:30 p.m., followed by a surprise that Clapp is keeping secret. “The Q&A portion will culminate with a performance, a unique, one-time-only special performance by the cast of Michael Jackson ONE, where you will only be able to see it this one time,” she said. “The cast and crew have worked incredibly hard on bringing something new and fun and different than anything that you’ve seen on our stages before.” Organizers plan to live-stream the Q&A for fans worldwide. Michael Bush, Jackson’s longtime costume designer, will hold his annual book signing near the Michael Jackson ONE Boutique, followed by pre-show meet-and-greets with Estate representatives, special guests, and members of the ONE creative team. Cupcakes will be served, too. After all, it is Michael Jackson’s birthday.
The celebration centers on a show facing a clear challenge: its star can’t step onto the stage. Cirque doesn’t try to solve this by hiring an impersonator. For Clapp, this is key to what makes ONE special. “This is the only show where you get to see Michael Jackson,” she said. “It’s not an impersonator or somebody who’s playing tribute to Michael. It is Michael Jackson.” Jackson is seen through his original recordings and films, sometimes shown on a huge scale. His choreography, costumes, and images are the base, while Cirque’s dancers and acrobats perform live around him. His voice fills the theater as performers move above the audience. Dancers strike poses that fans instantly recognize. Sometimes, the acrobatics fade, and Jackson’s image takes over, making it feel like a concert—until you remember he’s been gone since 2009. Michael Jackson ONE just marked its 13th anniversary and, as Clapp describes, has had a “massive refresh” with new music, costumes, and technology. A striking addition may be flying above the seats: 64 drones will move above the crowd. “This is one of the first times that’s being done in an indoor space,” Clapp said, “and we’re really proud of that.” Nine new LED panels add even more visuals, and a new Diabolo act set to “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” has performers tossing spinning objects high into the air as Jackson’s 1983 hit plays. Clapp thinks Jackson, who always pushed the limits of concert technology and showmanship, would like these updates. “I would hope that he would be very proud of what the team has done,” she said. “Especially with the refresh, bring-
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If you have spent your whole life watching your community struggle no matter who is in office, it is easy to believe that your vote won’t change anything. You see schools that need more resources, neighborhoods that deserve more investment, and communities asking for change year after year. After a while, some people stop believing anyone is listening. But I also believe that is exactly why voting matters. The people we elect make decisions about education, mental health funding, affordable housing, community programs, healthcare, and criminal justice. Those decisions directly affect neighborhoods like mine and families like mine. If we want things to change, we can’t sit back and expect someone else to make
those choices for us. Our voices matter, and our votes do too. One of the biggest changes that needs to happen is the way we talk about mental health. We have to stop teaching young Black boys that crying makes them weak. We have to stop acting like asking for help is something to be embarrassed about. Real strength isn’t pretending you’re okay when you’re not. Real strength is being honest enough to say you’re struggling and courageous enough to ask for help. As I continue growing into the man I want to become, I’m learning that strength and vulnerability can exist at the same time. I can be determined, hardworking and resilient while still being honest about my emotions. I don’t have to carry everything by myself, and neither does the next generation of young Black men. It’s time we change the conversation. Instead of only telling young Black boys to be strong, we should also tell them it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to talk. It’s okay to heal. Because when we create a generation of men who feel safe expressing themselves, we aren’t making them weaker. We are giving them a better chance to live healthier, happier lives. And that is the kind of strength our communities have needed all along.
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Insight News • September 07, 2026 - September 13, 2026 • Page 5
A N E W W E E K LY S E R I E S · S E P T. 1 4 – N O V. 2
Your November Ballot Every candidate. Their photograph. Their priority. In their own words.
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CANDIDATES
WEEKLY EDITIONS
COUNTIES — HENNEPIN AND RAMSEY
Beginning Sept. 14, Insight News runs your general‑election ballot one section at a time — eight editions, 137 candidates, through election Monday. Every major-party candidate for state and federal office on your Hennepin or Ramsey ballot appears here, contested or not, along with any minor-party candidate who is the sole opponent in a race.
Each one gets a photograph, the priority issue of their campaign, and one sentence quoted directly from their own published material. County, school board and judicial races appear in the roster. Between now and Nov. 3, this is your ballot, explained.
Absentee voting opens Sept. 18 E L E C T I O N D AY I S T U E S D AY, N O V. 3
W H AT R U N S F O R E V E R Y C A N D I D AT E
1
2
3
A photograph
A priority issue
Their own words
One column wide, in color, so you know the face on your ballot.
The campaign priority our editors judge most consequential for this district.
One sentence quoted directly from the candidate’s published material, with the source noted.
W H E N YOU R D I ST R I C T RU N S
Sept. 14
Statewide offices + Congressional Districts 3, 4, 5
Sept. 21
Senate Districts 59, 60, 61, 62
Sept. 28
Senate Districts 63, 64, 65, 43
Oct. 5
Senate Districts 66, 67, 44
Oct. 12
Senate Districts 34, 38, 46
Oct. 19
Senate Districts 36, 39, 40
Oct. 26
Senate Districts 37, 42, 45
Nov. 2
Senate Districts 49, 50, 51
Insight News The Journal for Community News, Business & the Arts In print and at InsightNews.com
I N F O R M . I N S T R U C T. I N S P I R E .
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Why the rise in government debt is freaking out the bond market launched a huge A$5.5 billion bond last month. governments – governments often have large debts they have built up because of their past budget deficits. Like anyone, if you spend more than you earn, you need to borrow.
The main driver is government debt
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By Mark Crosby Professor of Economics, Monash University Mortgage holders know interest rates have risen over the past year, as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted the cash rate to fight inflation. But mortgage holders are not alone: governments and business borrowers are facing the same pressure. Australia’s government now has to offer investors more than 5% on its 10-year bonds, which hit a 15-year high
Healing From 3 race to support mental health and healing among children of color. These conversations can interrupt cycles of harm before they harden into trauma. Providing positive representation and affirming race are strong ways to rebuild and heal after harm is done. When young people see themselves reflected positively in school leadership or the media, it “leads to a stronger sense of pride, belonging, and selfworth,” he says.
Votes From 3 small shift in union votes could influence the outcome.
What’s in store this November?
How large is the union vote? The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics figures show that the percentage of U.S. unionized workers has fallen over the past four decades. In 1983, 20.1% of U.S. workers were represented by a union. In 2025, the rate was 10.0%, or 14.7 million people. Union membership among public sector workers (32.9%) is more than five times higher than that of private sector workers (5.9%). In close elections, the volatility of these voting blocs matters.
Midterm From 3 deadline for voter registration. But it may not be too late to register. Many states allow same-day registration at the polling site. You can find your state’s same-day voter laws detailed here. Ask the poll worker, at the correct polling location, for a same-day registration form; complete the form and then ask for a “conditional ballot.” A conditional ballot allows election officials to count your vote after verifying your voter eligibility. If you can’t research online, you can call your local election office to find out if you can register on Election Day.
Gather documents to verify your identity
If you live in a state that re-
The larger a government’s debt, the more bonds it must issue – and the higher the interest rates needed to attract investors. US national debt has grown to more than US$40 trillion – more than 20 times the size of Australia’s entire economy – while Australia’s federal government debt recently passed A$1 trillion. Funding debts of this size is pushing up interest rates worldwide. At the same time, some bond investors are getting concerned by the high levels of US government debt and the lack of plans to curb spending, so they are demanding higher interest rates on government bonds.
than a day – using the cash rate to influence demand for borrowing. Raising interest rates ultimately dampens economic demand and reduces inflation. The RBA cash rate affects borrowing costs across the economy for all other forms of debt – car loans and credit cards as well as mortgages, and corporate debt. But the RBA can’t directly influence longer-term interest rates such as 10-year bonds, which are market rates and fluctuate constantly based on investors’ demand. If the RBA cut rates sharply right now, for instance, bond investors would likely read this as inflationary – pushing up inflation expectations and, in turn, the interest rates demanded on longer-term bonds. The RBA’s action would end up being counterproductive.
America’s ‘exorbitant privilege’ – and its limits
on Tuesday after a long period of low interest rates since the global financial crisis in 2008. In the United States, 10-year interest rates sit around 4.7%, surging nearly half a per cent just this year, while the benchmark 30-year bond is near a two-decade high. In the UK, 10-year bond rates on Tuesday hit the highest level since the global financial crisis. Higher rates mean higher interest payments for governments too, leaving less room for other spending or for tax cuts. This applies not just
to the federal government here but to the states, whose borrowing costs have also jumped. For example, Victoria’s 10-year bonds now pay an interest rate of 5.55%. So what’s actually driving market interest rates higher? Governments issue bonds to raise money and finance spending that isn’t covered by tax revenue. Like any asset, the price of a government bond depends on supply and demand.
Less bond supply means issuers (governments or companies) don’t need to offer higher rates to attract buyers; more supply pushes rates up. Bond issuance comes from three main sources: households – borrowing for mortgages, which the banks can then repackage into bonds and sell to investors. businesses – issuing bonds to fund operations. In the US, AI-sector firms such as Amazon and Microsoft have issued about US$240 billion in debt to fund data centres. Even in Australia, Google owner Alphabet
Duncan studies how racial trauma affects Black youth and how repeated exposure to racism can become a psychological injury — one that shapes how young people see themselves and the world around them. In psychiatry, racial trauma is referred to as racebased traumatic stress and is considered a form of post-traumatic stress disorder, Duncan says. Race-based traumatic events can become chronic stressors that, over time, lead to anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, and sleep problems. “This can start af-
fecting things like academic performance and mistrust of institutions, such as people not wanting to go to the hospital or see a mental health professional,” he explains. Duncan says cultural competency, a core component of medical education, involves understanding patients’ cultural backgrounds and psychosocial stressors. “At a young age, you notice that people do not look like you, and subconsciously you’re already building stereotypes,” he says. “Silence doesn’t protect our kids from racism, but preparation does.” Preparing Young People With Truth and Context
Similarly, other young adults credit family guidance for preparing them to navigate racial identity and recover from moments of racial trauma. A’markis Johnson, 22, recalls entering high school and realizing that, unlike middle and elementary school, most students weren’t Black. “I grew up in East Orange, New Jersey, around a lot of people who looked like me,” he shares. “It wasn’t a pressing issue until high school, when I started interacting with people who were other races… and by that point, I already understood my racial identity.” He credits his mother for engaging him in discussions
about race in a way that felt natural rather than intrusive. These conversations enabled him to enter new environments without losing his sense of self. As an educator, Maera Ochieng-Onyango, 29, says she struggles to balance how much to share with students who are curious about racial identity and how to discuss it in a thoughtful, balanced way. She is a museum educator and arts education advocate who believes truth-telling with younger generations is “the best defense against future generations of painful patterns.” Onyango says preparing students for discussions about race also means making
sure they understand their rights in different settings. She has taught young men about their legal rights, as well as students about their education rights and the CROWN Act. “Racial trauma is real, but so is Black resilience. We’ve always found ways to not just survive, but also to create and thrive,” Duncan says. “Encourage these conversations. Be parents, educators, and leaders who normalize conversations about race, start them early, celebrate race, and build spaces where young people feel safe to be themselves.” Based on reporting by Inner-City Newspaper.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump promised to reduce consumer prices, bring back manufacturing jobs and respect workers’ rights. As the midterm elections approach, I believe the president’s performance on these issues in the eyes of union voters will determine which party controls the House and Senate. And the signs are not promising for Trump, with recent polls indicating the president’s support among union households is eroding.
off-again, on-again tariffs may help some U.S. manufacturers. That’s because tariffs can erase the advantages of low-cost overseas labor. As economist Laura Veldkamp noted in July 2026, Trump’s tariffs “made it more profitable for American manufacturers to set up and produce here.” The bigger problem, though, is that even if some manufacturing returns to the U.S., the work will likely be done with the latest manufacturing technologies, which tend to reduce the need for workers. That does not bode well for significant job creation. In July 2026, Moody’s financial analyst Mark Zandi told Marketplace that more manufacturing output “doesn’t translate into jobs.” He explained that there has been more activity in the tech sector and in the defense-aerospace industries, but “these factories
just don’t employ a lot of people.” Additionally, Trump has not established a clear plan to lower inflation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that food prices in July 2026 were up 3.0% from July 2025. This increase is slightly above the historical average. There’s one more factor to consider. Many older blue-collar workers – many of them former union members – across New England, the Great Lakes, Ohio and western Pennsylvania remain angry about the epic industrial collapse of the 1970s and 1980s. This kind of generational suffering can show up in the voting booth in a big way. And I don’t think voter surveys and polls are able to measure the depths of this rage.
of 1978 allowed government workers to unionize. But a March 2025 White House announcement said the legislation had enabled “hostile Federal unions to obstruct agency management.” Through an executive order and mass layoffs across the federal workforce in 2025, Trump has presided over a dramatic change in public sector collective bargaining in Washington, D.C. Offering guidance on the 2025 executive order, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management directed federal agencies to end their collective bargaining agreement. In response, the American Federation of Government Employees condemned the action in an email to its members, saying the Trump administration was “illegally strip(ping) collective bargaining rights from hundreds of thou-
sands of federal workers.” Federal unions have challenged the White House’s March 2025 executive order. In 2026, independent arbitrators have also ruled against the administration’s efforts to circumvent labor agreements with some federal workers. And in June 2026, a federal judge in Massachusetts struck down an effort by the Trump administration to exercise control over union elections at federal agencies. Whether unionized industrial workers support their public sector counterparts remains to be seen. Disclosure statement Robert Forrant does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Once you know your polling place and its hours, you can go there and check in. In most cases, you’ll be handed a ballot, shown where to vote and asked to put your ballot in a machine or a box, and then you can go merrily along your way. But the moment of check-in is where things might go wrong.
vote under those circumstances, so stay in line and wait to cast your ballot. Possibility No. 3: You’re not on the registered voters list. If you’re told you can’t vote because your name is not on the voter roster, ask the poll site worker to check again and to check what’s called the list of supplemental voters. If they still can’t find your name, ask the poll worker to verify that you’re at the right location. Possibility No. 4: Someone claims you shouldn’t be allowed to vote. If your voting eligibility remains challenged after ensuring you’re at the right polling location, ask to cast a provisional ballot, which is available in every state except Idaho and Minnesota. You can find details about your particular state’s provisional ballot rules here. Track your provisional ballot here.
Call a hotline
poll site, call one of the hotlines above to report the intimidation, and file a claim with the FBI later by phone at 800-CALL-FBI – 800-225-5324 – or online at tips.fbi.gov.
Manufacturing jobs and inflation
The U.S. economy has lost 75,000 manufacturing jobs since January 2025, a 0.6% decline. These jobs have steadily declined since the 1980s, so Trump’s policies are not solely to blame. Furthermore, Trump’s quires identity verification to vote in person, gather the required documents – which may range from a driver’s license to bank statements with identifying information – before traveling to the correct polling place. You can find your county election office’s contact information here. This webpage includes a table listing each state’s acceptable ID documents and possible exceptions for some people. You may also call your local election office to find out what’s required. Absentee voters: Locate your state’s identity verification rules here.
Find the correct polling location
You can ensure that you’re headed to the right polling place with this tool. Or call your county election office to find your polling place and its hours of operation; you can look up your county’s election office contact information here.
Supply and demand
Problems at your polling place
Here are potential vote challenges and ways to overcome them. Possibility No. 1: Out-of-order polling machines. If you’re asked to leave because of malfunctioning machines, don’t. Instead, ask for a paper ballot. Possibility No. 2: You’re in line and officials announce the polls have closed. If you’re in line at the polling location before it closes, don’t let them turn you away at closing time if you haven’t voted. You have the legal right to
Union representation
The Civil Service Reform Act
What central banks can do
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) manages interest rates through the “cash market” – short-term borrowing of less
If you are not given a provisional ballot, call an election hotline for help. Here are four hotlines, run by members of the nonpartisan Election Protection coalition, that can help you: English: 866-OURVOTE/866-687-8683, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Spanish: 888-VEY-VOTA/888-839-8682, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Education Fund Asian Languages: 888-API-VOTE/888-274-8683, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote Arabic: 844-YALLA-US/844-925-5287, Arab American Institute
Report voter intimidation
If someone tries to scare you into voting or not voting for a candidate, stand your ground and demand a ballot from the
The US has long enjoyed a unique position in global markets: it can issue growing volumes of government bonds without needing to offer higher rates to attract buyers. This “exorbitant privilege” stems from the US dollar’s dominance in global trade and financial transactions, and the widespread trust that central banks and private investors place in US government debt. US Treasury Secre-
BOND
File a lawsuit
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If you are still blocked from voting, consider legal action – but get advice on your exact situation from one of the hotlines, which have free lawyers on hand. It’s a good idea to write down the names of people who prevented you from voting and to ask people who witnessed the incident for their contact information. Disclosure statement Karen FigueroaClewett does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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Bond From 6 tary Scott Bessent has tried to capitalise on this by intervening in the bond market, aiming to shrink supply and push market interest rates lower. That would reduce the interest bill for the US government. The US Treasury increased the amount of debt it is buying back, but the buybacks only had a brief impact on the market. Investors concluded the buybacks don’t change the underlying picture: increasing US government financing needs, fears of rising inflation, as well as growing corporate bond issuance to fund AI and data centres. All these forces tend to push interest rates higher over the medium to long term, and no financial engineering can undo this reality.
Rates are rising around the world
Across many countries, bond market rates are rising because higher inflation is eroding the real returns for investors. They are demanding more compensation to protect their spending power.
Insight News • September 07, 2026 - September 13, 2026 • Page 7 This is compounded by rising bond issuance from both governments and companies. No amount of financial engineering from the US Treasury can reverse these forces. Central banks and governments can influence short-term interest rates to some degree. But longer-term debt such as 10-year bonds are ultimately priced on three things: expected inflation the scale of government debt and financing needs and the level of corporate and household borrowing.The best thing any central bank can do to keep market interest rates low is set policy so inflation remains low. That’s the purpose of the RBA’s inflation target of 2–3%. As well as keeping a lid on consumer inflation expectations, it lets bond investors know inflation should return to that level in the medium term, and so market interest rates don’t get too high. Disclosure statement Mark Crosby does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Photo by Alan Light
Michael Jackson in Honolulu, Hawaii - February, 1988
Michael From 4 ing some of these new technological elements.”
A new generation finds Michael
You can sometimes see the renewed excitement for Jackson even before the show starts. More fans are showing up in Jackson-inspired outfits. Military jackets, black leather, buckles, glitter, and fedoras fill the lobby, creating a living timeline of his career, where his style is almost as famous as his music. Some remember when those looks were new. Others weren’t alive to see them. Michael’s billion-dollar movie has opened a new door for younger fans. They can see Jaafar Jackson play his uncle, then look back and discover Motown 25, the moonwalk, Thriller, “Billie Jean,” Bad, “Smooth Criminal,” and concert clips of Jackson standing still while crowds went wild. Then, they can visit Las Vegas, where the actor steps aside. Jackson’s real voice and images are still there, with
Cirque performers bringing his recordings to life on stage. That mix of generations will be clear on August 29, when fans who remember the Jackson 5 sit alongside people whose first real experience with Michael Jackson was the 2026 movie. By the end of the night, the special guests will have taken the stage, Bush will have signed books, the unique performance will be over, and most of the cupcakes will be gone. Then the doors will close. The dancers and acrobats will get ready. Nine LED panels will sit in the dark. Sixty-four drones will wait to take off. No one knows how Michael Jackson would have sounded at 68, or what he might have done with today’s technology. Las Vegas can’t answer that question. But it can dim the lights and let his original voice fill the room. “That is what makes this show so unique and unlike anything else in the world,” Clapp said. “Seeing it live with the human performance element and with Michael himself is an experience that you will never forget.”
B L A N CO & R E P OSA D O 75 0 M L 8 8 P R O O F | 4 4 % A BV 1 0 0 % P U R O D E AG AV E D O U B L E D I ST I L L E D 5 0 % S M O K E D A N D 5 0 % ST E A M E D D I S C OV E R M O R E AT F O R YO U M A S E S P I R I T U !
R E V E L S P I R I T S .C O M
Page 8 • September 07, 2026 - September 13, 2026 • Insight News
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Insight 2 Health
‘Must I take all my antibiotics?’ Why infectious disease experts are rethinking this longstanding rule
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By Amy J. Mathers Associate Professor of Medicine and Pathology, University of Virginia You’ve probably heard it for years, every time you get a prescription for antibiotics: “Make sure to take all the pills.” Traditionally, clinicians have given two reasons for these strict instructions: So the infection doesn’t come back, and so you don’t end up with bugs so hearty that antibiotics can’t kill them. But these days, clinicians like me are starting to rethink this approach. As a physician specializing in infectious diseases and the medical director of the the University of Virginia’s antimicrobial stewardship program, I’ve spent much of my career focused on using antibiotics wisely and encouraging colleagues to be thoughtful about how they choose and for how long they prescribe these medicines. The evidence around how long patients should take antibiotics is more nuanced than the traditional advice to “finish the course” suggests. Yes, it’s
still a good idea to follow your doctor’s advice – but not because stopping your medicine early would breed bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
A mistaken cause of microbial resistance
When physicians began to use penicillin widely in the 1940s, they noticed something curious in the first few hundred patients. Some improved dramatically in just a few days, while others required longer courses to cure their infection and avoid relapse. Studies eventually showed that the type of infection a patient has, the specific bacteria causing it and how well an antibiotic can penetrate into infected areas in the body all play a role in this variation. But the message that patients must finish whatever course of antibiotics they were given – which was promoted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization – was based on a misconception that if you don’t kill all the infecting organisms right away, the ones that come back and cause a relapsed infection will be resistant to the original antimicrobial drug.
However, there is little evidence of that. Take strep throat, for example. This bacterial infection sometimes comes back after a short course of antibiotics, but that’s not because of resistant bacteria. Rather, it’s because the patient may get reinfected – for example, from the bug circulating at home or in school – or because an antimicrobial did not penetrate the infected tissue fully, leaving some straggler bacteria in place to regrow. In fact, the bacteria that cause strep throat have never developed resistance to penicillin, even after decades of use or in the setting of a relapsed infection.
Balancing antibiotics’ pros and cons
Scientists now know that it’s not shortened courses of antibiotics that can promote antimicrobial resistance, but that antibiotic exposure itself creates selective pressure for resistant bacteria to emerge. What many clinicians, including myself, worry about is that most antibiotics do not just target the bacteria causing the infection. They also affect the many bacteria people naturally carry in their
gut, mouth and elsewhere in the body including the beneficial ones. The longer someone takes an antibiotic, the more it can disrupt these microbial communities – often called the microbiome. Antibiotics begin affecting the microbiome as soon as they are taken. By killing or suppressing bacteria that are susceptible to the drug, antibiotics can give resistant bacteria a survival advantage, allowing them to make up a greater proportion of the remaining bacterial population. Thus, each additional day of treatment provides more opportunity for this selection to occur. This is why researchers have increasingly focused on finding the shortest course that reliably cures an infection by providing enough antibiotic to treat the infection successfully, while avoiding unnecessary exposure that can further disrupt the microbiome and give unwanted bacteria a chance to thrive.
Durations in flux
Over the past decade, several clinical trials involving infections including bladder infections, pneumonia and even bloodstream infections have found that shorter courses of antibiotics can work just as well as longer ones, often with fewer side effects. Thanks to this evidence, doctors today prescribe much shorter courses of antibiotics than they did a decade ago. What used to be a 14-day prescription is now often three, five or seven. But shorter is not always better. Some complicated infections require weeks of treatment. An infection may be contained in a pocket, such as an abscess, or involve tissue that antibiotics have difficulty reaching. Or, a person might have a weakened immune sys-
How does Salmonella contaminate everything under the sun? A food safety specialist explains how you can stop its spread By Kimberly Baker Food Systems and Safety Program Team Director, Clemson University Does it feel like Salmonella is contaminating everything these days? From the food you eat and the pets you love to the surfaces you touch and the recreational areas you enjoy, this deadly bacterium can be found almost everywhere. As of August 2026, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 10 outbreaks related to Salmonella this year linked to a variety of sources, including jalapeno peppers, backyard poultry and shell eggs, moringa leaf powder and reptiles like turtles, chameleons, geckos and bearded dragons. Other reported Salmonella outbreaks over recent years have also been linked to home-delivery meals and dry dog food; cantaloupe, cucumbers and diced onions; alfalfa sprouts and basil; flour and raw cookie dough; fish, ground beef and charcuterie meat; and pistachio cream and peanut butter. Outbreaks are identified when two or more people become sick from the consumption of the same food. Although it seems like there has been more Salmonella outbreaks in 2026, CDC reporting shows that the number of outbreaks has remained similar over the past five years – so
far. However, given the Trump administration’s drastic cuts to federal public health agencies, reduced federal oversight of food production and handling may increase the risk of serious illness. Salmonella is the second-most common foodborne illness in the world. In the U.S., Salmonella infects approximately 1.35 million people each year. Approximately 26,500 people are hospitalized and about 420 die from the illness annually. These figures may underestimate the true number of infections because many people recover within a few days and don’t seek medical attention or report their illness. Most often, those who do seek medical attention are people who are more susceptible to foodborne illnesses, such as children, older adults, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems. The U.S. spends approximately US$2.4 billion each year on medical expenses and lost wages associated with Salmonella infections. When I educate consumers, retailers, growers and food manufacturers in my work as a food safety specialist, the basic principles I share to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses remain the same. No matter where food is produced or who is handling it, everyone plays a role in stopping Salmonella from getting people sick.
Why is Salmonella everywhere?
Although Salmonella primarily originates in the intestinal tracts of people and animals, including insects and birds, the bacterium is commonly found in the environment. Once Salmonella leaves the gastrointestinal tract of a person or animal through its waste, the bacterium can contaminate anything it comes into contact with when it has the environmental conditions necessary to support its survival. Under optimal conditions, the bacteria can survive in water for several weeks and in soil or food for years. Salmonella optimally grows at a temperature range of 95 to 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (35 to 37 degrees Celsius), neutral acidity and high humidity. However, research has shown that Salmonella can survive in much broader ranges, including temperatures as low as 35.6 F (2 C) and as high as 129.2 F (54 C), and highly acidic or basic conditions. The bacteria’s ability to adapt to a wide range of conditions is what allows them to survive in many environments, foods and products. Another reason why Salmonella seems so common is because it spreads through so much of what people interact with on a daily basis: soil, water, plants and animals. It can be found in the bodies of water that people use for recreational activities and drinking water. It can also contaminate untreated water used to irrigate produce, and infiltrate the edible portions of crops through the roots or
open wounds.
How do you get infected with Salmonella?
While researchers have discovered more than 2,500 varieties of Salmonella, only about 100 types cause illness when consumed. The most common types are Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium, and these contribute to the majority of reported infections around the world. People get sick from Salmonella through what researchers call the fecal-oral route: when pathogens from an infected person’s or animal’s gastrointestinal tract are excreted in their feces and transmitted to another person’s GI system through their mouth. Symptoms begin about eight to 72 hours after consuming Salmonella and continue for approximately 3-5 days for most people. Common symptoms are severe stomach cramps and watery diarrhea that may contain blood or mucous. Other symptoms may include headache, nausea and loss of appetite. Around 4% of people infected with Salmonella Typhi – a particularly dangerous type of Salmonella that causes typhoid fever – become asymptomatic carriers who periodically shed the bacteria in their feces up to one year after initial infection. Approximately 2.2% of this population can carry the bacteria for up to eight years. Typhoid is a significant public health problem in Africa and South Asia.
tem, making it harder for their body to clear the infection. Ideally, your healthcare provider would take these factors into account and use the most up-to-date evidence for deciding which antibiotic to prescribe and for how long. Following their advice is still your best bet. Their medical judgment may be imperfect, simply because the full picture on how long infections must be treated is still coming into view. Researchers have not studied all types of infections, and few studies have looked at patients with underlying health issues or those in hospitals. What’s important to remember, however, is that the goal isn’t simply to take fewer antibiotics but to use them for the shortest amount of time that has been shown to safely and effectively treat a particular infection.
Can you stop when you feel better?
Since about 2020, researchers began asking whether patients could use their improvement in symptoms as a guide for when to stop taking antibiotics and thus limit unnecessary antibiotic exposure. In theory, this could work for some patients some of the time for some infections – thereby reducing unnecessary antimicrobial exposure – but in practice, it’s not that simple. While certain infections could be treated with shorter courses of antibiotics than doctors have traditionally prescribed, there’s little to no research on how the length of time taking antibiotics aligns with when a person’s symptoms improve. For some infections, a person may feel better but still require additional antibiotics to fully treat and keep the infection from coming back. What’s more, feeling better is subjective, so using a patient’s sense of when they’re feeling better as a guide means different people might stop tak-
How to protect yourself from Salmonella
The first thing you can do to reduce your risk of Salmonella infection is to understand where you might encounter it, and how to stop its spread and consumption. Considering that the bacteria primarily live in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals, your first line of defense is proper hand-washing: after using the restroom, before eating or preparing food, after handling or cleaning up after animals, and after touching any item or surface that may be contaminated. The full hand-washing process should take at least 20 seconds – about how long it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. Rinse your hands with clean water to remove any loose debris, apply enough soap to make a good lather, and scrub all surfaces, including between fingers, under fingernails and above wrists. Rinse with clean water and dry your hands with a clean towel. Since Salmonella can be present in bodies of water, use caution when swimming in lakes, rivers and ponds. Avoid swallowing bodies of water and shower in clean water after swimming to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. When handling food, there are several important precautions that will help reduce the spread of Salmonella. Many food safety practices can help lower the risk of infection from both food and nonfood sources of Salmonella • Clean and sanitize all food contact surfaces, especially after they have come in contact with raw meat, eggs and other foods that have the potential to carry Salmonella. • Wash all produce before preparing and eating it by running it under cool run-
ing their antibiotics at different times. A better way to cut down on unnecessary antibiotics use is for clinicians to be more mindful not to prescribe them unnecessarily – which many still do. A 2025 review of 412 studies showed that roughly a third of antibiotics prescriptions worldwide are inappropriate. This is especially true for colds and other infections in the nose, throat and sinuses, many of which are caused by viruses and don’t need antibiotics at all. When patients take antibiotics for these ailments and start to feel better after a few days, it’s likely not because the antibiotic improved their condition but just because their body successfully fought off the infection on its own. Another piece of the discussion is trust. The “complete the course” message has long served as a simple, clear way to get people to take their medications seriously. Changing that message, especially when trust in public health is already fragile, needs to be done carefully. Even with this in mind, however, the data is clear that a shorter unfinished course is not the cause of antibiotic resistance. And for us physicians, it’s our job to prescribe antibiotics only when they’re truly necessary, to rely on upto-date evidence to guide duration and to talk to our patients about what to expect: when they should start feeling better, when to worry about recurrence and what to do if they’re not sure whether to keep taking their medication. Disclosure statement Amy J. Mathers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
ning water. Use a clean produce brush on hard outer surfaces to remove dirt that is difficult to rinse off. • Keep any raw foods away from food that is already cooked or ready to eat. • Cook foods to their required minimal internal temperature. Cook beef, pork, eggs, fish and shellfish to 145 F (62.8 C), ground meat to 160 F (71.1 C) and poultry, casseroles and leftovers to 165 F (73.9 C). After cooking, refrigerate food that won’t be immediately eaten, or keep it hot at 135 F (57.2 C) or higher. • Keep foods that require refrigeration below 40 F (4.44 C), and limit the time they are exposed to higher temperatures to no more than two hours. • Keep food away from backyard poultry and reptiles. Do not eat near them, either. Clean and sanitize surfaces these animals touch, and wash your hands thoroughly before handling food, touching common surfaces or touching your mouth or face. • Wash hands after handling any pet food and keep children away from pet food dishes and treats. Working together can save people from getting sick or dying from Salmonella. While it isn’t possible to eliminate Salmonella entirely from the environment, you can reduce your risk of illness and help prevent its spread. Disclosure statement Kimberly Baker does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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Insight News • September 07, 2026 - September 13, 2026 • Page 9
Business
The US has struck a deal to control Venezuela’s oil reserves. It probably won’t help bring down fuel prices By Sahara Hoff Research Associate in the United States Studies Centre’s Economic Security Program, University of Sydney US President Donald Trump has announced an agreement with Venezuela that he called the “biggest oil deal in world history”. The Trump administration says the agreement will double US oil reserves and lower fuel prices for all Americans. But questions remain about whether and when that might happen. Trump’s approval ratings are currently at record lows. This deal is partly an attempt to address voters’ concerns about affordability ahead of the US midterm elections in November. Yet for both the United States and Venezuela, a series of challenges pose significant barriers to the long-term success of the deal.
What do we know about the deal?
On Monday, the White House provided further details about how the deal will operate. Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has granted 100-year concessions to develop 17 oil fields to a joint venture between the US government and North American Blue Energy Partners, a private oil exploration and production company. Combined, these
Image created with AI
fields have estimated reserves of 65 billion barrels of oil. To put that in perspective, the total amount of extracted crude oil the US currently has sitting in its stocks sits at 718.6 million barrels – just 1% of the indicated quantity of Venezuelan oil. The US-backed North American Blue Energy Partners is Venezuela’s second-largest private oil producer. It’s run by Alejandro Betancourt López, a Venezuelan businessman who is reported to have ties with Rodríguez. Under the agreement, the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital (originally set up under the Biden administration) will take a 35% equity stake in North American Blue Energy Partners. The US government is guaranteed 20% of oil offtake
at cost, as well as the right of first refusal to purchase the remaining 80%. The agreement requires that a majority of North American Blue Energy Partners’ board members be US citizens. It also gives the US government veto power over the board of directors.
Pain of higher gasoline prices
As the Iran war continues, the US government faces domestic pressure over high energy prices. Crude oil prices are up more than 20% since March, due to the effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping choke point. The average US citizen has felt this impact. Gasoline (petrol) prices have jumped 37% since the start of the conflict, and food prices are 3% higher than they were last May
and are continuing to rise each month.
Venezuela’s energy sector needs investment
Venezuela is home to some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but currently makes up only 1% of global production. This is a result of years of underinvestment, ageing infrastructure and the impact of US sanctions dating back to 2005. This deal has the potential to get Venezuela the capital and investment needed to scale up energy production and exports. Rodríguez has announced her support, pointing to the potential for economic revenue and the modernisation of energy infrastructure.
Why change will take years
It’s unlikely the US market will see any major shift in energy prices in the short term. It will take years and significant investment to build out the infrastructure in Venezuela needed to scale oil production. Chevron was the only US company to stay in Venezuela following the country’s nationalisation of oil resources in 2007. The company is reportedly in talks to expand its operations in Venezuela. Venezuela’s existing oil fields can increase output more quickly, but will still require an estimated US$10 billion to $20 billion to repair and modernise. Rystad Energy, an independent energy research company, estimates it could take until the mid-2030s to even reach full production for existing oil fields. For the development of new oil fields, one estimate says it could take upwards of a decade and at least US$100 billion in investment to bring new supply online.
A risky deal?
This deal comes with major risks. There has already been significant domestic backlash in both countries, which could result in legal challenges. Venezuelans, including members of the Chavismo movement, have raised concerns over sovereignty and resource extraction. Some US oil representatives have reportedly voiced issues over potentially competing with a US government-backed company in Venezuela.
Is it illegal for the president to spend ‘patriotic’ donations on a White House ballroom or anything else? By Ellen P. Aprill Senior Scholar in Residence at the UCLA Law School's Lowell Milken Center For Philanthropy And Nonprofit Law, University of California, Los Angeles The fate of President Donald Trump’s estimated US$400 million White House ballroom may hinge on the little-known and somewhat surprising rules as to when the federal government and its agencies can accept privately donated funds. That’s because Trump is using the fact that he’s been accepting private donations to pay for at least some of the project’s cost as a justification for not needing Congress’ explicit authorization. A federal appeals court on Aug. 7, 2026, disagreed and left in place a lower court’s injunction that was slated to halt construction on Aug. 21. But on that same day, before the injunction took effect, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said the Trump administration could continue construction work while the court considers its request. As a scholar of nonprofit and tax-exempt law who has studied for decades how the law governs deductible charitable contributions, including those to the government, I find that this appeals court decision calls for an explanation of the role that such private donations may play in any federal government project or activity. An intricate statutory dance is required for taxpayers to make donations to particular government agencies or for particular government purposes.
Giving to the government
You may not realize that you can make potentially tax-deductible contributions to the federal government itself. An
Challenges on the horizon
The deal’s long-term durability is shaky in both countries as well. In the US, a new president in 2029 could unwind the deal. In Venezuela, a history of nationalising oil assets also raises doubts about the deal’s longevity, with the potential for a similar move under a future administration. The type of oil in Venezuela is a further challenge. Venezuelan oil is very heavy and high in sulphur, making it difficult and costly to extract, transport and refine. Further, the capacity of existing heavy crude oil refineries is currently constrained due to ongoing shocks from disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Even with new crude oil supply, refining remains a bottleneck.
Looking forward
The success of this deal will require long-term financial and political support from both countries that will need to be maintained across future governments. As more details emerge, questions remain about what the role for private US companies in Venezuela might look like and how both leaders might insulate the deal from political challenges. However, in the short term, given the practical difficulties yet to be overcome, the deal’s impact is likely to be more political than economic. Disclosure statement Sahara Hoff is affiliated with the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
and using privately collected funds demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized to be built and American taxpayers paid for,” the majority opinion says. “Until now.”
Satisfying 2 statutes
The White House official website lists almost two dozen programs, including the National Endowment for for the Humanities, the National Arboretum and AmeriCorps, to which U.S. citizens can donate. But such donations are allowed to government agencies only if Congress has granted the agency statutory authority to receive those funds. In this context, according to the reasoning of the majority in the appeals court case, that means spending donated funds to preserve the East Wing would have been automatically allowed because it stood on a national park and the National Parks Service is an agency that individuals can donate to; spending those funds to build something new to replace that structure would not be allowed unless Congress had authorized the project. But the Trump administration has failed so far to obtain congressional authorization and appropriations for the ballroom. The federal government has accepted donations voluntarily made by Americans since its founding. What’s more, the Bu-
reau of Fiscal Services – the central bank account and financial manager for the federal government – explains that it “may accept gifts donated to the United States Government” and that the account for such gifts, which dates back to 1843, was established “to accept gifts, such as bequests, from individuals wishing to express their patriotism to the United States.” Such gifts, however, are subject to restrictions.
Statutory restrictions
Since 1982, a provision of the United States Code, the official codification of all the nation’s general and permanent federal statutes, has required that these “patriotic” donations be devoted exclusively to reducing the national debt. By law, federal agencies cannot augment congressional appropriations. The Miscellaneous Receipts Act requires that “an official or agent of the Government receiving money for the Government from any source shall deposit the money in the Treasury as soon as practicable without deduction for any charge or claim.” Despite this seeming-
ly absolute language, government agencies are permitted to accept gifts of money or other property when – and to the extent – they are given explicit statutory authority. Agencies with the authority to accept gifts include the Justice Department, the State Department and the Library of Congress. But any money must be spent only as Congress directed in establishing the agency mission. The mission of the National Park Service is the conservation and preservation of the land and structures under its jurisdiction. In contrast, the White House does not have this authority. Its own website states that it “is unable to accept cash, checks, bonds … or other monetary equivalents” as gifts from private citizens.
‘No instance in A merican history’
That’s in part why the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held on Aug. 7 that Trump could not build the ballroom on the site of the former East Wing building. The two judges in
Credit:Carol M. Highsmith/Rawpixel
the majority concluded that neither the National Park Service, which is the steward for the national park on which the White House stands, nor Trump himself had satisfied all the statutory requirements needed to undertake building of the above-ground ballroom. It did not block work on an underground military bunker the Trump administration began renovating after it demolished the East Wing in October 2025. That some, most or even all the funding comes from private donations does not protect the administration’s right to proceed with construction of the 90,000 square-foot (8,361 square-meter) ballroom because it has failed so far to obtain congressional authorization and appropriations for this project, the majority explained. Crucial to this conclusion was a statute declaring, “A building or structure shall not be erected on any reservation, park, or public grounds of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia without express authority of Congress.” “We are aware of no instance in American history in which a President unilaterally
The Trump administration has pointed to two possible statutes it says provides the necessary authority to do that. One involves the purposes for which the National Park Service can spend its funds, including privately donated funds. The other grants the president the ability to spend funds for, among other items, “the care, maintenance, repair, alteration, refurnishing, [and] improvement” of the executive residence at the White House – funds that “are authorized to be appropriated each fiscal year.” The majority explained that authority for the president to construct the ballroom requires satisfying both of those statutes; neither alone suffices. And it rejected the reliance on the National Park Service provision alone. That statute limits use of the service’s funds, in the words of the majority, to “the identified purposes of conservation and preservation.” In particular, the majority ruled, the provision does not authorize the construction of a new building. Further, it held, the National Park Service provision cannot authorize the president to lead the project; only the provision related to the executive residence can do that. As to the executive residence provision, the majority opinion explains that it “does not expressly grant the President any independent authority.” Instead, the majority held, the president must rely on “an accompanying appropriation.” The court found no such accompanying appropriation. Disclosure statement Ellen P. Aprill does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Page 10 • September 07, 2026 - September 13, 2026 • Insight News
insightnews.com
Arts & Culture
Why Tupac lives on in Cape Town 30 years after he was murdered
Tupac Shakur
By Dariusz Dziewanski Honorary research affiliate, Centre of Criminology, University of Cape Town Thirty years after world famous US rapper Tupac Shakur was gunned down at the age of 25, his legacy has remained a lasting and continuous presence in Africa. During my many years of work as a criminologist and researcher, I have witnessed
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young people in countries as far-flung as Guinea, South Sudan and Zimbabwe strutting the streets in T-shirts emblazoned with his likeness. I’ve also seen murals memorialising him painted on walls in Sierra Leonean villages and in South African townships. I was so struck by Tupac’s influence in Africa that understanding it became part of five years of ethnographic research for a book on street culture, violent practices, and gang exit in Cape Town’s peripheral Cape Flats communities. Field-
work included hundreds of hours of interviews with those who live in areas marked by poverty and insecurity that’s driven an estimated 100,000 people into some 130 gangs – fighting each other in a daily struggle over identity and turf wars. My study of Tupac’s ongoing impact in Cape Town was published in a paper in the journal Ethnography. It found that for marginalised people living on the Cape Flats, Tupac Shakur is more than a musician – he’s a symbol they draw on for dignity and grit to push back against physical threats, material insecurity, and social and personal disempowerment. It is men – especially poor young men – that most stereotypically connect to the militant fervour of Tupac’s gangsta rap. They look up to him as a street cultural outlaw who attains power and wealth through crime and violence. But gangster masculinity is only one part of the picture. Female gang members also draw on Shakur’s image as a “street soldier” to perform street culture for many of the same reasons that men do – protection, income, status, and so on – as well as due to threats of sexual violence faced specifically by females. For those resisting gangs, Tupac acts as a “ghetto prophet” and template for pos-
itive transformation. The juxtaposition of rap with religion is significant. It represents another key aspect of his own mythology; he is frequently referred to as a “ghetto saint” because he gave voice to the suffering of Black communities trapped in poverty and violence. Tupac’s music and legend give marginalised young people in Cape Town’s townships a shared symbolic language to resist oppression and reclaim agency over their own identities. As his music rings out from speakers and headphones all over the Cape Flats, Tupac’s fans hear their own struggles in lyrics, and imagine a better life beyond the boundaries they were born into.
Gang girls
One gang girl I interviewed, named Kelly, started calling herself “Tupac” at the age of 14 after she fled her abusive father. She cut her hair, started wearing a bandanna, and got a nose ring in the style of her rap idol – starting fights, stabbing and robbing to prove that she was a “badass bitch” and a “real west-sider” (a term for US west coast rappers like Tupac). Eventually she was noticed by – and joined – the 28s gang that ruled her community. Tupac’s legacy on gender is far from straightforward. His music could honour women in one breath and de-
mean them in the next. Songs like Keep Ya Head Up criticised the mistreatment of Black women, while Dear Mama was a tribute to his mother Afeni Shakur – a prominent political activist and a vocal member of the Black Panther Party. But he also used derogatory language towards females, and degraded his enemies by feminising them, especially rival east coast rappers. Another woman named Meryl – who never joined a gang, but survived an abusive and alcoholic father and later her own addiction – told me she saw Shakur’s story of hardship and resilience mirrored in her own. His music speaks to different parts of my life, even up until today. More than a decade sober and working in her community as a counsellor, she said his music had tracked her own transformation, from Hit ‘Em Up in her partying years to Changes as she found sobriety and a deeper purpose.
Ghetto gospel
Gavin first thought Tupac was a cartoon character, after his older brother played him the animated video for the song Do For Love. That brother was a member of the Mongrels and 28s prison gangs in Cape Town – both of which Gavin would eventually follow him into. He recalled: I see the big boys, they always moving Pac-style … And I’m just a little motherf—er, moving with my brother and them. While serving 10 years in prison for a gang-related murder, Gavin later tattooed himself with the words “Life Goes On” – the title of a wellknown Tupac song – as a reminder that “life had to go on in prison”. In his cell the warders
would only allow him a Tupac poster and a bible. Converted by Tupac’s ghetto gospel, Gavin decided to leave gangs to pursue a career in hip-hop: He was like a ghetto prophet … I want to be the Pac of the Cape Flats. To be an inspiration like Pac, for another kid like me, that is coming from the gutter.To follow that vision, Gavin leaned into the politically charged parts of Tupac’s discography and songs that tackle issues like teen pregnancy and police harassment in Black communities. It’s this more conscious side of Tupac’s music that helped cement his status as a symbol of Black Power in the US, as well as a conduit for broader pan-African struggles. Lasting legacy Tupac’s legacy is different things to different people at different times. He is gangster, prophet and revolutionary all at once. But the common chord is that in his music, Cape Town’s gangland residents find a shared refrain of survival and pride, echoing their own defiance against racism, violence and poverty in Tupac’s voice. For Kelly, Meryl, Gavin, and others, Tupac is proof that being young, marginal and Black does not necessarily mean being powerless. All names in this article have been changed Disclosure statement Dariusz Dziewanski does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Dozens brought families, artists, food entrepreneurs, growers, businesses and community organizations together Saturday, Aug. 29, on West Broadway between Logan and Penn avenues. Organized through Project Sweetie Pie and community partners, the event was powered by donated sound, generators, performances, art activities, food, equipment, professional expertise and volunteer time. Angelo and Sooper Sound Productions provided sound; D&S Properties Company donated generators; artists donated performances; and Common Endeavors helped coordinate entertainment and opportunities for emerging artists. The result was more than a summer gathering—the community itself was the headliner.
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MINNEAPOLIS — NEAR NORTH
MINNEAPOLIS — NEAR NORTH
NEAR NORTH
NEAR NORTH (CONT.)
Harrison Center
Amstor Food Mart
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Summit Academy
Village Social Services
818 Dunwoody Blvd
Park Plaza Apts
Crystal Beauty Salon
10th & Marquette
525 Humboldt Ave
1100 W Broadway
Glenwood Market
YMCA
Penn-Wood Market
W Broadway & Fermont Ave
501 Irving Ave
935 Olson Memorial Hwy
1821 Glenwood Ave 2125 Glenwood Ave
Fleetwood Gross & Deli 2007 Glenwood Ave
Milda's Café 1720 Glenwood Ave
So Low Food
3111 Emerson Ave N
E & L Food
1122 Lowry Ave
Metro Check Cashing 2211 Lowry Ave
Lowry & Penn Market 2211 Lowry Ave
True Vine - New Bethel 2639 Thomas
Great Is Thy Faithfullnes 2901 Emerson Ave
The Purpose
3001 Russell Ave
New Salem Missionary Baptist 2507 Bryant
Proverbs Christian 2114 Lowry
Penn Gas Stop 2606 Penn Ave
All Washed Up Laundromat 3008 Penn Ave
Wally's 1840 Penn Ave
GV Apartments (two bldgs)
Golden Avalley Rd & Penn Ave
Thor Building 3 racks Plymouth & Penn
Minneapolis Urban League 2200 Plymouth Avenue
Comcast Don’t drop 801 Plymouth Ave
NCDC
1000 Plymouth Ave
Micky's Liqour
1104 Plymouth Ave
Karate School/Energy Company 1200 Plymouth Ave
UROC 2001 Plymouth Ave
NRRC
1303 Golden Valley
North Community M B 3951 5th Ave S.
Turning Point
1500 Golden Valley Rd
North Commons 2801 James Ave
North Star School 2410 Girard Ave
Wayman AME Church 1221 7th Ave
Zion Baptist
621 Elwood Ave
Shiloh Temple 1201 Broadway Ave
New Rewsurrection MB 1301 N. 10th St.
United Faith 1156 Aldrich
Spirit of The Lord 1001 Penn Ave
High Praise 1200 N. 7th At
Hospitality House 1220 Logan Ave
Greater Mt. Nebo 1530 Russell
North Community M B 1832 Penn Ave
DTLR 509 W Broadway Ave
Boost Mobile
523 W Broadway Ave
7 Mile Discount
611 W Broadway Ave
Winner Gas
626 W Broadway Ave
Cub Food 701 W Broadway Ave
Elizabeth Hall Elen School 1101 Aldrich Ave
Afrocetric Educational 1501 Aldrich Ave
Merwin Liquor
700 Broadway Ave
US Bank 1030 Broadway Ave
50+
COVERAGE AREAS
1604 W Broadway 1007 W Broadway
1711 W Broadway
Olympic Café
2117 W Broadway
Broadway Liquor Outlet 2201 W Broadway
Sanctuary Covenant 2018 Aldrich
Minneapolis Central 1922 4 th Ave
Greater Mt. Vernon 1800 Dupont
The Movement 1801 James
Griot Ministry 1601 Penn
NuWay MB 1530 Russell
Redeemer Lutheran 1800 Glenwood
Glendale Seventh 1138 Glenwood
United Christian Church 4300 Queen Ave
North United
4350 Fremont Ave
Watchmen Outreach 4150 Dupont
New Oil Christian 4050 Upton
New Mount Calvary 3859 Fremont
Liberty Community 3700 Bryant
Christian Restoration 4350 Fremont Ave
North Market
44th Ave & Humboldt Ave
Fremont Market 3558 Fremont Ave
Camden Market
42nd Ave & Fremont Ave
Super - USA
3807 Fremont Ave
Pump & Munch
45th Ave & Lyndale Ave
Clark Gas 41th Ave & Lyndale Ave
Fremont Clinic
3300 Fremont Ave
Northside Food Market 3559 N Lyndale Ave
Lowry Food Market 628 Lowry Ave
Star Food Market 818 Lowry Ave
Felowship Missionary Church 3355 4th St
Good News 3400 4th St
Northside Oriental Grocery 3201 Penn Ave
Quick Stop 3601 Penn Ave
Union Liquor 3219 Penn Ave
Spirit of Truth 3254 Penn Ave
New Covenant MB
1115 30th Avenue North
Holland Highrise
MINNEAPOLIS — DOWNTOWN & UPTOWN
Dunwoody College
MINNEAPOLIS — SOUTH POWDERHORN
UNIVERSITY AVENUE
Sabathani Center
3440 University Ave
McDonald Liquors
2389 University Av
Outdoor Stand 7th & Nicollet 7th & Nicollet
Outdoor Stand 1st St & 2nd Ave S 1st St & 2nd Ave S
Outdoor Stand N. 1st St & 4th Ave N. 1st St & 4th Ave
Harbor Lights
310 38th St
5010 S. 34th St
2199 University Ave
S. 34th St
Amoco Gas
3900 10th Ave S
4454 Chicago Ave
1225 8th St KENWOOD
825 Summit Ave S
Cup Foods
1600 Chicago Ave
3729 Chicago Ave
Black Heart Bar Cub Food
LA Fitness
1370 University Ave
Project For Pride In Living
Pillsbury House
1182 University
Walgreens
Chicago Ave
3240 W. Lake St
Laundratmat
Hennepin Liquor
Chicago Ave
1200 W. Lake St
Saigon Uptown Restaurant 30 Lyndale Ave S
Gaffrey Deli & Sub
Wield Shop Chicago Ave
3008 Lyndale Ave S
Subway
Walgreens Lunds & Berlys Henepin Liquor Speedway Gas
2200 Lyndale Ave
2525 E. Franklyn Ave
Holiday Gas
LONGFELLOW
Long Fellow Market
LAKE STREET
3815 E. Lake St
Chicago Liquors
East Lake Liquor 3916 E. Lake St
Speedway Gas
920 E. Lake St
4320 E. Lake St
Bryant & Lake Bowl
Recovery Center
810 W. Lake St
3400 S. 34th Ave
Speedway Gas
HD Coin Laundry
801 E. Lake St
3225 E. Lake St
Speedway Gas
Hennep Library 2727 E. Lake St
Maytag Laundry 5747 E. 34th Ave S HIAWATHA
Walgreens
Street Box Selby & Western
Mississippi Market 622 Selby Ave
E & J Cleaners 642 Selby Ave
Selby Wine & Spirits 778 Selby Ave
Scoops Ice Cream 920 Selby
Carolyn Flowers 921 Selby
Golden Thyme Coffee Café 934 Selby Av
GRAND AVENUE
Kowalski's Market 1261 Grand Ave
Walgreens
734 Grand Ave
Perrier Liquor 666 Grand Ave
Mobil Gas
236 Grand Ave RICE STREET
Merwin Liquors 1700 Rice St.
W. 78th St Nicollet Ave
Holiday Gas
Tobacco Shop
Prime Market & Deli
2409 E. Franklyn Ave
Cub Foods
Merwns Liquor
8348 Lyndale Ave S
Holiday Gas
86th Lyndale Ave S
Mahiripiri Gallery
Emmanuel Church
9001 Penn Ave S & W. 90th St
6030 Xerxes Ave
AM Food & Tobacco
8936 Lyndale Ave S
Speedway
1814 Nicollet Ave
5100 James Ave
One Touch Beauty Salon 7710 Brooklyn Ste 202
Twin Cities Rise
1011 Broadway Ave
Axis Medical Center 1801 Nicollet Ave
Cub Food
980 Payne Ave
3245 County 10 Rd.
CVS
Outdoor News Rack
810 Maryland Ave
Xerxes & Bass Lake Rd
Walgreens
African A to Z Mart 6930 Brooklyn Blvd.
1180 Arcade St.
M & H Gas
Brooklyn Center Liquor
721 Arcade St
1350A Shingle Creek Crossing
Liquor Ware House
Holiday
854 E 7th St.
5710 Xerxes Avenue N
Speedway
RICHFIELD
846 Johnson Pkwy
Cub Food East Side Liquor
1361 Maryland Ave
Sana's Market
1541 Maryland Ave
Jimmy's Food
532 White Bear Ave
Holiday 1770 White Bear Ave
SAINT PAUL
1750 White Bear Ave
Holiday
D & L Foods
Capitol liquor
Liquor Barrel
Cedar & 5th
161 Victoria
7848 Portland Ave S
Otto's Liquors 7850 Portland Ave S
6601 Penn Ave S
CVS 6540 Penn Ave S EDINA
50th France Ave
Edina Liquors Walgreen's
1201 Larpenteur Ave
Big Bottle Liquors
1149 Larpenteur Ave
Grand Ave & Snelling Ave
Noble Laundromat
Beauty Paradise
100 Larpenteur
Grand Ave & Hamline Ave
9056 Lyndale Ave S
Super Casa
6755 York Ave
BP Gas
MGM Liquor
7846 Portland Ave S
Outdoor Box
CVS
Cub Food
Upper Guts Barber Shop
France Ave
301 Mississippi St.
Merwin Liquors
7836 Portland Ave S
Speedway Gas
626 Larpentuer
El Gordo
TBS Mart Foods
BP Gas
Cedar & 6th
LARPENTEUR AVENUE
6000 Portland
7940 Penn Ave S
urban Lights
Outdoor News Box
531 Rice
Speedway Gas
Walgreen's
Snap Market
629 Rice St.
6444 Lyndale Ave S
7845 Portland Ave S
2197 Old Hudson
Outdoor News Box
957 Rice St.
7700 Lyndale Ave S
Walgreens
275 White Bear
Big Discount Liquors 945 Rice St.
Richfield Liquor Richfield Liquor
1177 Clarence St
1559 Larpenteur Ave
9001 Lyndale Ave S
1812 Nicollet Ave
5801 Brooklyn Blvd
Payne Ave Wine & Spirits
Speedway
1196 Rice St.
6044 Brooklyn Blvd
CVS
Cub Food
The Hillock Apt
696 Rice Street
3301 Hiawatha
6930 Brooklyn Blvd
296 E 7th St
MGM Liquor
Moto Market
African Deli
Speedway
Nanny's Jamaican Kitchen
Clinton Laundry Mat
1700 Rice St.
Dragon Star Super Market BROOKLYN CENTER
500 E 7th St
Speedway
46th St Hiawatha Ave
2001 Central Ave NE
Pilgrim Rest Church
Brooklyn Blvd & Starlite Ctr 8020 Brooklyn Blvd
633 W 7th St
Walgreens
1908 4th Ave S
Metro by T-Mobile
Cub Food
B P Gas
University & Rice
137 Maryland Ave
9200 West Broadway
6390 Brooklyn Blvd
8401 Lyndale Ave S
1901 57th Ave N
913B Payne
Holiday
2455 Hennepin Ave S
2501 E. 22nd St
Ebenezer Church
SELBY AVENUE
City Gyro
Brookdale Christian Center
9200 West Broadway
EAST SIDE
Walgreens
8421 Lyndale Ave S
6321 Zane Ave
Ebenezer Church
2057 Marshall Ave
1734 W 7th St
Nomadic Oasis Barber
2124 E. Franklyn Ave
7710 Brooklyn Ste 100
Amoco Gas
6930 Brooklyn Blvd
Minnoco Gas
Fast N Fresh Deli
Family Dentistry
2027 Marshall Ave
Speedway
Uptown Ballons
Holiday Gas
71st & Brooklyn Blvd
Marshall Liquor
Outdoor News Box
1625 Rice St.
4801 63rd Ave
Outdoor News Rack
981 Marshall Ave
Speedway
3541 Cedar Ave S
2622 Franklyn Ave
Welcome Ave & Brooklyn Blvd
1445 W 7th St
438 University Ave
Speedway Gas
Unity Temple
Outdoor News Rack
Book of Acts Church International COGIC
6930 Brooklyn Blvd
2501 Hennepin Ave S
Zipps Liquor
9401 Zane Ave
585 Fuller Ave
Speedway
BLOOMINGTON AVE
2951 Central Ave NE
Hy Vee Gas
Wolter Bros Liquor
Subway
Franklin Ave
9300 Zane Ave
Camphor Memorial United Methodist
Cooper's Food
Check Cash
Liferack Resources
Speedway
Unidale Mall
4440 Snelling Ave S
2329 Central Ave NE
8517 Zane Ave
KFAL Radio
3333 Cedar Ave S
Franklin Ave
Super - USA
451 W Central Ave
Tin Cup liquors
2000 S. 4th Ave & Franklyn
Wells Fargo Bank
5200 85th Ave
B.C. Liquor
Winner Gas
Health Center
Brooklyn Park City Hall
Mount Olivet Baptist Church
Boost Mobil
Walgreens
1815 Central Ave NE
7700 Brooklyn Blvd
1125 W 7th St
The Uptown Diner
Franklin Ave
678 Aurora Ave
Gentlemen's Cuts
Ele. Fetus
Senior High-Rise
St Albans Church of God in Christ
Hook Fish-chicken
1717 Washington Ave NE 2610 Central Ave NE
983 Central Ave. W
Walgreens
440 University Ave
317 E. 38th St
1902 Clinton Ave
New Birth Missionary Baptist
5716 Brookdale Dr
SEWARD
2404 Hennepin Ave S
Grace Temple Church
732 West Central Ave
The Gold Key Liquor Store
Speedway
Seward Co-op
1905 3rd Ave S
Pilgrim Baptist Church
Sunrise Grocery
Spy House
Third Ave Food Market
7 Mile
5700 Brookdale Dr
665 W 7th St
3620 E. 26th St
WHITTIER
608 University
QUICK AFRICAN MARKET
446 University Ave
2327 Hennepin Ave S
801 E. Lake St
Earth's Beauty Supply
7636 Brooklyn Blvd
Outdoor Box
Imaai Church
Global Market
Merwin Liquors
Liquor Barrel
Fit 1st Run
825 E. Lake St
839 University
7638 Brooklyn Blvd
Glamour Cuts
2600 E. 26th St
2448 Hennepin Ave S
Dale & Univrsity
University & Dale
2105 Lyndale Ave
Speedway Gas
Outdoor News Box
Shop
Cedar Food and Grill
2547 Hennepin Ave S
Family Dollar
7525 Brooklyn Blvd
605 University
1808 Riverside Ave
Wedge Co-op
DALE / WESTERN
St. Peter Church
W. 38th St Nicollet Ave
1200 W. Lake St
Brownstone
600 University Ave
Chicago Ave
1450 W. Lake St
970 University Ave
Park Ave Church
401 E. 41st
3240 W. Lake St
Speedway
University & Dale
3400 Park Ave S
2252 Lyndale Ave S
Hair & Wigs
Terriost Shop Chicago Ave
Speedway
756 Snelling Ave
CENTRAL / WEST SIDE
UPTOWN
Auto Shop
7410 Brooklyn Blvd
Speedway
Tobacco Shop
3740 Chicago Ave
1450 W. Lake St
Nice Family African
717 Snelling Ave
6930 Brooklyn Blvd 7330 Brooklyn Blvd #100
589 Dale Ave
1515 Park S
3501 Chicago Ave
Speedway
1539 University Av
1305 University Ave
Lunds & Berly's
Bubble Fresh Laundromat
600 Snelling Ave
Speedy Market
Coffeehouse
Park Elder Center
Holiday
Metro T Moble
1440 University Ave
Elliott Park Grocery
Nails & Tanning
510 Snelling Ave N.
604 Western Ave
Smoke in the Pit 3733 Chicago Ave
Fasika Restaurant
1685 University Ave
1475 University Ave
SUBURBS & NEARBY BROOKLYN PARK
W & T Market
1415 University
ELLIOT PARK
SAINT PAUL — EAST & WEST SNELLING AVENUE
Milburn Clothing
Just Turkey Restaurant 3731 Chicago Ave
The Kenwood
YMCA 1761 University Ave
Family Dental Clinic
Elliott Towers
Holiday
Believer Church
4432 Chicago Ave
730 S. 8th St
Speedway
Laundrat Mat
Chrysali Center
HCMC
Sharret"s Liquor
3357 University Ave SE
3800 Bloomington Ave
53 Glenwood
First Independence Bank
Speedway Gas 5101 S. 34th St
ALWAYS & FOREVER
SAINT PAUL — UNIVERSITY & SELBY
Greater Church 2600 E. 38th St
Outdoor Stand 10th & Marquette
Free
YEARS IN PRINT
Holiday
1345 Hamline Ave
CVS
6975 York Ave
CVS
6905 York Ave
30 Fairview Ave
Cub Foods
6775 York Ave CRYSTAL
Holiday
African Market
9066 Lyndale Ave S
Bottine Blvd & Wilshire Blvd
Walgreen's
9800 Lyndale Ave S
Crystal City Hall
Next Supermarkes
Holiday Gas
Crystal Liquor Warehouse
Walgreen's
HennCty Library - Rockford Rd
Speedway Gas
Liquor Barrel
1280 W. 98th St S
5628 W Broadway
WINDOM
ROBBINSDALE
Holiday Gas
Hy Vee
Cub Foods
Arco Food Mart
Walgreen
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
1823 Nicollet Ave 1845 Nicollet Ave
4141 Douglas Dr N
50 W. 98th St S
Family Tree Clinic 1919 Nicollet Ave
Flowers by Miss Bertha 2100 Nicollet Ave
A Slice of New York 2407 Nicollet Ave
Park Avenue Center
56 Ave & Elmhurst
9800 Lyndale Ave S
6401 N 42nd Ave
5444 Nicollet Ave
2430 Nicollet Ave
Glam Doll Donuts
3505 Bottineau Blvd
5937 Nicollet Ave
2607 Nicollet Ave
Shawns Hor Supermarket 2712 Nicollet Ave
Caravelle Photo
Bottineau & 42nd Ave
Speedway
W. 66th St Nicollet Ave
Subway
5000 Central Ave NE
Laundermat
4950 Central Ave NE
Top Value Liquor
W. 66th St Nicollet Ave
2529 Nicollet Ave
Pancho
W. 66th St Nicollet Ave
2539 Nicollet Ave
BP Gas
Speedway Gas
W. 35th St Nicollet Ave
PPL Career Center
5400 Lyndale Ave S
CBD Health & Wellness 5315 Lyndale Ave S
1021 E. Franklyn Ave
Outdoor Box
50th Grant Ave S
Super USA
5965 Penn Ave S
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Page 12 • September 07, 2026 - September 13, 2026 • Insight News
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Trump is proposing a US Space Academy – if created, it could blur the lines between NASA and the military By Wendy Whitman Cobb Professor of Strategy and Security Studies, Air University During a visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Aug. 28, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a United States Space Academy. The proposal, which would establish a NASA-led institution set up along the lines of a military academy, is a new one. As a space policy expert, I see several open questions and potential problems related to the vision Trump’s executive order described.
The proposal
During his first term in office, Trump undertook several actions supporting space exploration. He established the Artemis program, to return astronauts to the Moon, in 2017. A year later, he announced his support for a new branch of the military dedicated to space. In 2019, this became reality with the establishment of the Space Force. Given this record, it’s not surprising that Trump has continued to show interest in space during his second term. During his remarks in Texas, Trump stated that the U.S. Space Academy will “serve both the United States Space Force as well as NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry.” Further, he said the school would be comparable to the other service academies such as West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy. The actual executive order doesn’t create a space academy outright. It establishes
Credit:The White House/Flickr
Donald Trump a commission that must gather information and give a report within 120 days about the feasibility of a U.S. Space Academy. The commission will be led by Jared Isaacman, the NASA administrator, and will include, among others, the secretary of defense, the national security adviser and the director of the Office of Management and Budget. That order says the academy would “develop a professional corps of civically grounded leaders prepared to advance American interests within the space domain.” As a NASA-led federal academy, it would be the first nonmilitary service academy that the government would run. The commission would then determine what exactly would be taught.
Open questions
Both Trump’s speech and the
executive order leave several open questions. First, former NASA leaders and members of Congress have expressed concerns about the relationship between a space academy and the military. The president’s comparison of the space academy to the military academies and his use of the Space Force in justifying a space academy contradict the executive order’s description of the effort as NASA-led, as NASA is not part of the military. This confusion even extends into reporting on Trump’s order, with news outlets running headlines like “A West Point for Space?” Since the 1950s, American space policy has separated civilian space efforts like NASA from military ones. While this division hasn’t always been perfect, the U.S. Space Academy proposal reignites a debate over this civil-
ian-military split. This leads to another question about what a space academy would teach. Military academies like West Point combine military training and education with typical college degree programs like engineering or the social sciences. It remains unclear what a space academy would teach and how much of its curriculum would be about military uses of space, versus exploration and science. The executive order opens up other questions about the academy’s relationship to civilian and military space programs. These include whether there are any potential obligations to serve in the Space Force and the extent to which Space Academy students would receive military-specific training. A second problem involves Congress. Not only is Congress responsible for establishing new bureaucratic organi-
zations, but it must also provide funding for them. So, congressional action will be required to actually create the U.S. Space Academy. While getting the exact funding numbers for the military service academies is difficult, one member of Congress estimated that each service academy costs roughly US$1 billion per year. Starting an entirely new academy would require significantly more than that. If, as the executive order suggests, NASA would lead the academy, funding may be even more difficult because funding NASA is not mandatory. In fact, it is often one of the first agencies to suffer budget cuts. But the biggest implication of this space academy proposal is that it would almost certainly lead to a reconsideration of the relationship between military and civilian space. The distinction between these two
areas has been a cornerstone of U.S. space policy for over 65 years. While the lines have been blurred at times, a U.S. Space Academy that serves as both a military and civilian institution confuses them even further. As tensions in space between the United States and its potential adversaries continue to rise, balance will be necessary to avoid any potential escalation. Space activities that are civilian in nature, like scientific exploration, should not be confused with those that are distinctly military related, such as missile warning or defense, that might be seen as more aggressive. Keeping this distinction clear will help to clear up any confusion about U.S. intentions in space. It will also be important to define the precise purpose of the space academy and who exactly it will serve. What advantage does a space academy offer over civilian schools and universities that offer similar programs? Will commercial space companies have an opportunity to be involved? And what would that look like? While some might see the proposed U.S. Space Academy as a step on the way to Star Trek’s Starfleet Academy, there are many real-world questions that need to be answered first. Disclosure statement Wendy Whitman Cobb is affiliated with Air University. The opinions and conclusions expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policies or positions of the United States Air Force, the Department of War (Defense), or any other U.S. Government agency. Mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations do not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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