Category Archives: National

Permitting Process Holds Us Back

By Monica Collison, President & Exec. Director, OK Rural Association

Opinion: Everyone rails about how government red tape is a problem. I’ve seen it firsthand, and they’re absolutely right—especially when it comes to permitting new energy and infrastructure projects.

Our country’s burdensome permitting process is one of the biggest obstacles to modernizing infrastructure, unleashing American energy production, and spurring economic growth in rural and underserved communities. The capital and technical capabilities exist—they are just sitting on the sidelines because the process of obtaining federal approval for major projects has become so slow, uncertain, and fragmented that it discourages investment altogether.

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Links Acetaminophen and Autism?

By David Arnett

In a release after a broadcast press conference late yesterday the White House wrote:

“The Trump Administration does not believe popping more pills is always the answer for better health. There is mounting evidence finding a connection between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism — and that’s why the Administration is courageously issuing this new health guidance. Additionally, the Trump Administration is approving a new treatment option that has been found to improve some autism symptoms. President Trump pledged to address America’s skyrocketing rates of autism, and his team is deploying Gold Standard Science to deliver on this pledge. We will not be deterred in these efforts as we know millions across America are grateful.” — Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

President Donald J. Trump joined Administration officials yesterday to announce major progress in understanding the root causes of autism, which has exploded (see cart below) in diagnoses over the past two decades, and unveil bold new initiatives to tackle the autism epidemic.

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Memphis Welcomes President Trump’s Action

By David Arnett

President Donald J. Trump’s action to deploy federal resources to Memphis marks a powerful step forward in the fight to make Memphis safe again amid its longtime struggle with violent crime. This bold federal-state partnership drew immediate praise from residents, business owners, and area lawmakers as a transformative step to reclaim the city from violent crime and chaos.
 
Residents, who have endured escalating dangers, hailed it as a long-overdue lifeline:

  • “This is an opportunity for us and for our city. I hope we make the most of it,” says an East Memphis business owner.
     
  • “I don’t even feel safe anymore except for the places I know they have security guards… You really don’t know how bad it is in Memphis unless you’ve been a part of it for 40 or 50 years… This has been needing to be done for a long time,” says a longtime Memphis resident.
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Court Allows Planned Parenthood Cut

By David Arnett

Yesterday, the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 3-0 that the federal government can enforce the portion of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that cuts Medicaid funding to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood while the legal case continues. The decision allows the government to bar tax-exempt organizations that perform abortions and had received more than $800,000 in reimbursements in 2023 from receiving further Medicaid funds. The ruling removes a lower court’s preliminary injunction from July 2025 that had blocked the provision and was keeping the funding stream in place.

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