JetBlue hikes bag fees to offset higher fuel costs. Here’s what travelers will now pay.

Universal credit: Why it may not be fit for the future

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March 31, 2026

Universal credit: Why it may not be fit for the future

Can Universal Credit and the work and benefits system more generally reshape itself to meet a new reality?

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World Cup 2026 risks becoming a ‘stage for repression’ – Amnesty report

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March 31, 2026

World Cup 2026 risks becoming a ‘stage for repression’ – Amnesty report

In its 36-page report titled ‘Humanity Must Win: Defending rights, tackling repression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup’,, external Amnesty calls on the host countries’ governments to “meet their obligations under international human rights law, while Fifa, national FAs and sponsors all have clear responsibilities to respect human rights…”

“The US government has deported more than 500,000 people from the USA in 2025, more than six times as many people than will watch the World Cup final in the MetLife Stadium”, said Amnesty’s head of economic and social justice Steve Cockburn.

“…It’s a deeply troubling time in the US, which will certainly extend to fans who want to take part in World Cup celebrations.”

Last month, the acting head of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that the agency is “a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup”, vowing it was “dedicated to ensuring that everyone that visits the facilities will have a safe and secure event”.

Earlier this year, ICE agents shot and killed two American citizens as part of US president Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

Trump has sent federal agents, as well as the National Guard, to major US cities over the past year to make good on his campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration. They have been met with protests and legal challenges in Democrat-led cities like Portland, Los Angeles and Chicago.

“Despite the astounding numbers of arrests and deportations, neither Fifa nor the US authorities have provided any guarantees that fans and local communities will be safe from ethnic and racial profiling, indiscriminate raids, or unlawful detention and deportation,” said Cockburn.

“Only four of the 16 host cities have so far published their human rights plans, and none of those that have done so to date say anything about protection from abusive immigration enforcement.

“This World Cup is no longer the ‘medium risk’ tournament that Fifa once judged it to be – whether it is to protect people from ICE, guarantee the right to protest or prevent homelessness, urgent action is needed to make sure the reality of this World Cup matches its original promise.”

Amnesty says that ICE and other agencies “pose a chilling threat to people living in the US, those traveling to see a game, and players themselves”.

It added: “Fans face intrusive surveillance, with proposals to force visitors to make their social media accounts available for vetting, and screening for “anti-Americanism”.

In January, fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) told BBC Sport it was “extremely concerned by the ongoing militarisation of police forces in the US” before the World Cup”.

At the time, Fifa said the safety and security of fans and participants was its “top priority”, adding it works closely with local authorities “to plan, co-ordinate and deliver comprehensive security measures for the tournament”.

The White House’s World Cup Task Force said that the tournament will be “the largest, safest, and most welcoming sporting event in history” and that it was working to deliver an event “that highlights America’s hospitality, commitment to security, and spirit of excellence”. It promised that fans “can look forward to a smooth, secure, and truly unforgettable tournament”.

Amnesty highlights Mexico’s response to high levels of drug cartel violence, which it says is “raising risks for people protesting”. Earlier this month the World Cup co-host announced plans to deploy nearly 100,000 security personnel to protect fans at this summer’s tournament.

And the campaign group also claims that in Canada, a growing housing crisis has “raised fears that people experiencing homelessness will again be displaced and pushed further to the margins”.

Fifa has been approached for comment.

Martin Lewis issues urgent advice to millions affected by car finance scandal

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March 31, 2026

Martin Lewis issues urgent advice to millions affected by car finance scandal

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Martin Lewis has issued urgent advice to the 12 million drivers affected by the car finance scandal.

The money expert said the mass redress scheme was “unprecedented” and urged those affected to put in a complaint as soon as possible.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) released details of its compensation scheme for millions of people mis-sold car loans following a lengthy consultation period.

Around 12 million drivers are now in line for a payout, after a systemic issue which saw them mis-sold car finance deals usually due to hidden commission arrangements.

Each will receive an average payout of £830, the regulator has confirmed, and should be contacted before the end of 2026.

Martin Lewis has issued urgent advice to the 12 million drivers affected by the car finance scandal (ITV)

Mr Lewis explained if a complaint is put in now you are more likely to be paid back this year. If you do not complain the lender may not have your details to contact you either, he added.

“The only way you can know if you were mis-sold, the only way you can know if you have got a complaint, is to complain. Which is why I’m telling you to get your complaint in now so you can find out,” Mr Lewis said in a video posted to X.

Those affected do not necessarily need to put in a complaint, but the FCA has confirmed that those who have already done so will likely receive compensation sooner.

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People who believe they may have been affected but are not contacted have been given until 31 August 2027 to complain to their firm.

“If you’ve complained and it said you had a discretionary commission arrangement, that’s one of those big categories of misselling, you’re in the complained group,” Mr Lewis said.

“If they’ve just responded to you to acknowledge your complaint, but not dealt with it yet, you are in the complained group,” he added.

But he explained if you did complain and you received a response that you did not have a discretionary commission arrangement, you won’t count as being in the “complained group.” He urged those in that situation to put in a new complaint as there are now different categories.

However, Mr Lewis explained that it may be possible to get more money by taking your case to court,

He said: “This mass redress scheme covers more people, it is likely to be simpler and easier. But there is a chance you would get paid more money if you went to court. The problem is if you go to court you would likely need help to do so, in which case you are going to give away 30 per cent of what you won, So you need to make that decision.”

Major name rumored to surprise open WWE Raw at MSG

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March 31, 2026

Major name rumored to surprise open WWE Raw at MSG

We are only a few weeks away from WrestleMania 42, and all the rules are thrown out the window as every major storyline is in full swing before the biggest WWE event of the year.

And tonight, on “Monday Night Raw,” broadcast on Netflix, things are expected to get even crazier, with the likes of Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, and Roman Reigns all expected to appear on the show emanating from Madison Square Garden in New York City.

But they aren’t the only big stars expected to be on the show.

There is a huge surprise name rumored not only to be on “Raw” but also to open the show at MSG, truly pushing what can happen on this road to WrestleMania 42.

More news: Will The Rock Wrestle at WrestleMania 42?

More news: Every Rumored and Projected Match for WrestleMania 42

Cory Hays of Bodyslam is reporting that WWE champion Cody Rhodes will be kicking off tonight’s show, following “Friday Night Smackdown” where he had a brawl with ‘Mania opponent Randy Orton.

Orton ended Friday’s show by RKO’ing musical artist Jason Bradley “Jelly Roll” DeFord in the main event segment, angering the champion Rhodes.

Rhodes, although on the “SmackDown” brand, is allegedly shifting over to Netflix on Monday to continue promoting his marquee match at WrestleMania.

Although a surprise, it is not the first time that the WWE has used Madison Square Garden as a place where anything and everything can happen under the iconic roof.

Along with Rhodes, there is speculation that Bron Breakker, who has been sidelined by a hernia injury for over a month, will return on Monday to confront Seth Rollins to lock in their blood feud at WrestleMania 42.

A Chick-fil-A restaurant is rewarding customers when they go phone-free at the table

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March 31, 2026

A Chick-fil-A restaurant is rewarding customers when they go phone-free at the table

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

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A Chick-fil-A location in Towson Place, Maryland, is offering customers a sweet treat if they eat their entire meal without looking at their phones.

The branch is introducing a Cell Phone Coop Challenge, where winners will be awarded with a free ice cream cone if they store their mobile device in a white box, referred to as the “cell phone coop,” for the duration of their dining experience.

To participate, as noted in a recent Facebook post from the restaurant, customers should dine in the restaurant and ask a team member for the coop to place their phone.

Guests are advised to let a team member know when they finish their meal, and everyone at the table will get a vanilla soft-serve Chick-fil-A Icedream cone.

Chick-fil-A customers at a restaurant in Towson Place, Maryland can get a free ice cream if they don’t use their phone eating (Getty Images)

“Grab a coop and take the challenge,” a sign from the restaurant on its Facebook reads.

A representative for Chick-fil-A told The Independent that the Cell Phone Coop Challenge isn’t a nationwide initiative. The company notes that all restaurants are independently owned and operated, so they may offer events and initiatives specific to their locations.

Chick-fil-A’s Cell Phone Coop Challenge isn’t a new concept. The cell phone coop was created by Brad Williams, an owner of two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Georgia, back in 2016. At the time, he had put one of these coops at every table in his two restaurants, with customers being rewarded with ice cream if they kept their phones in there for their entire meal.

“It just got me thinking how to get people to disconnect in order to connect and to take a technology timeout,” he told ABC News in 2016. “Be present where your feet are.”

“We’re trying to slowly create rituals that create disciplines and will slowly create habits,” he added. “It’s almost like we’re starting to create a no-cellphone zone.

He also spoke about the success of his creation, explaining: “There’s more conversation and chatter. It’s hard to sit with your family and not do the challenge now.”

Previous research has revealed how the presence of mobile phones during social situations can make the interactions less enjoyable. For a 2018 study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, participants eating dinner at a cafe in Vancouver, in groups of two or four, were asked to keep their phones on the table while they ate. However, the other group of participants had to keep their phones out of sight.

Once the meal was over, everyone was given a questionnaire to rate their enjoyment of the experience.

Those who dined with their phones present rated enjoyment levels 0.36 points less than those without. Participants with a phone during dinner also reported higher levels of boredom by 0.28 points and rated distraction levels higher by 0.46 points.

Michigan synagogue attacker committed ‘Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism’: FBI

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March 31, 2026

Michigan synagogue attacker committed ‘Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism’: FBI

The man armed with fireworks who rammed his truck into a West Bloomfield, Michigan, synagogue was carrying out “a Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism purposely targeting the Jewish community and the largest Jewish temple in Michigan,” the FBI said.

Ayman Mohamad Ghazali was “motivated and inspired by Hezbollah’s militant ideology” for his March 12 attack at Temple Israel, Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said at a news conference on Monday.

Ghazali — who wanted to kill as many people as possible, Runyan said — died at the scene. Dozens of law enforcement officers were hurt in the incident but nobody inside the synagogue was injured, authorities said.

Police tape hangs outside the Temple Israel synagogue, March 13, 2026, in West Bloomfield Township, Mich.

Paul Sancya/AP

On March 9, three days before the attack, Ghazali, 41, started looking at web pages for local synagogues, Runyan said.

He tried to buy a gun from two different people. After they said no, he bought an AR-style rifle at a gun store, along with 10 rifle magazines and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition, she said.

Ghazali searched online for phrases including “largest gathering of Israelis in Michigan” and “Israelis near me,” and tried to delete his search history, Runyan said.

Law enforcement respond to a call at Temple Israel synagogue, March 12, 2026, in West Bloomfield Township, Mich.

Paul Sancya/AP

He also practiced using his gun at a shooting range and purchased more than $2,200 worth of fireworks, she said.

On March 11, he began adding photos to a Facebook photo album that he called “vengeance,” Runyan said. He posted images that included Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran who was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, she said.

On March 12, the morning of the attack, Ghazali posted numerous photos of his deceased family members to Facebook, and he wrote online, “We will seek retribution for his sacred blood,” according to Runyan.

Ghazali’s two brothers and several other relatives were killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 5, a town official in Mashghara, Lebanon, told ABC News earlier this month.

On March 12, while sitting in the synagogue parking lot, Ghazali sent his sister “19 videos, photos and messages that reiterated his intent to commit a mass terrorist attack, as well as affirming his Hezbollah-inspired ideology,” Runyan said.

Ghazali also exchanged several short phone calls with his ex-wife shortly before the attack, Runyan said. The ex-wife called local police requesting a welfare check, she said.

On the afternoon of March 12, Ghazali plowed his truck into the synagogue and struck a security guard, authorities said. When Ghazali’s truck jammed in a hallway, he opened fire, authorities said, and security guards returned fire.

A police vehicle sits outside the Temple Israel synagogue, March 13, 2026, in West Bloomfield Township, Mich.

Paul Sancya/AP

The synagogue became engulfed in fire. Runyan said Ghazali used approximately 35 gallons of gasoline.

Ghazali died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during an exchange of gunfire with security guards, officials said.

Dozens of law enforcement officers were treated for smoke inhalation, authorities said, but nobody inside the synagogue was hurt, including all 140 students at the building’s preschool. The security guard hit by the suspect’s truck was expected to be OK, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.

Runyan said she couldn’t say whether Ghazali was inspired by the strikes in Iran but did say he was “engaging in that ideology” before his relatives’ deaths. She said the FBI has not been able to verify if Ghazali — a U.S. citizen with no criminal history — was in Hezbollah.

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Jerome Gorgon said at Monday’s news conference, “Had this man lived, I’m convinced that my office would prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he committed the federal crime of providing material support to Hezbollah.”

Ghazali “acted under Hezbollah’s direct and control,” Gorgon said. “Terrorist propaganda is designed to activate the so-called ‘lone wolf’ to act on behalf of the terrorist organization.”

Selena Gomez says she was ‘misdiagnosed’ before receiving bipolar diagnosis

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March 31, 2026

ADULT ADHD STIMULANT PRESCRIPTIONS ARE SURGING — AND DOCTORS ARE RAISING CONCERNS

Selena Gomez says she was ‘misdiagnosed’ before receiving bipolar diagnosis

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Actress and singer Selena Gomez continues to be outspoken about mental health following her diagnosis with bipolar disorder.

The former Disney star announced her diagnosis in 2020 during an Instagram Live video call with fellow Disney Channel standout Miley Cyrus. Gomez has since described this discovery as a relief, although not an easy path.

In a recent episode of the “Friends Keep Secrets” podcast, Gomez – the co-founder of mental health publication Wondermind – shared details about her journey to diagnosis.

Fellow musician and husband Benny Blanco asked his wife if she knew she was bipolar before being officially diagnosed.

“I knew something was wrong, but I think I was misdiagnosed,” she responded. “I think people were just assuming – and I would try multiple therapists.”

Actress and singer Selena Gomez continues to be outspoken about mental health following her diagnosis with bipolar disorder. (Michael Buckner/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty Images)

“It’s actually really hard when we’re talking about these things, and for me to go, ‘Go get a therapist.’ All of it is so … complicated.”

Gomez detailed how her diagnosis required talking to “multiple different people,” stressing the importance of not giving up.

SIMPLE DAILY HABIT MAY HELP EASE DEPRESSION MORE THAN MEDICATION, RESEARCHERS SAY

“I’m so grateful I went to four different rehabs because it all helped me understand it,” she said.

Blanco revealed that Gomez sometimes experiences a manic episode without recognizing it.

“She’ll start to realize she’s having it after it’s happening, and sometimes she doesn’t even remember when it’s happening,” he said.

“It’s such a delicate thing because … you’re not supposed to, technically, talk to the person about it while they’re deep in it.”

Blanco added that Gomez is “so hyper aware” of when she’s experiencing mania.

“I’m equally proud to say that I do have moments of mania,” she said. “I’m not ashamed at all, because I can catch them a bit quicker.”

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND OTHER DISORDERS MAY HAVE THE SAME GENETIC CAUSE, STUDY FINDS

“It is helpful to have a partner who will understand … and meet you where you are,” the singer added.

Since her diagnosis, Gomez said she lives life more “freely.”

“The whole hypocrisy of shaming people for therapy, or people not understanding it, is that it’s just not for you,” she said. “But for me, it finally allowed me to go, ‘Oh, that’s why I handled things the way I [did]. That’s why all the other people were able to get over things quickly, and I wasn’t.'”

Selena Gomez wears strapless sparkling gown with fiance benny blanco in white suit

Blanco (left) revealed that Gomez sometimes experiences a manic episode without recognizing it. (Emma McIntyre)

Gomez added, “I’d act out of fear, I’d act out of love, I’d act out of passion, it was all inconsistent. It was crazy.”

CANNABIS MAY BACKFIRE FOR MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, MAJOR STUDY FINDS

The actress encouraged others that no matter the diagnosis, “you are not defined by a term.”

“It’s just informative to seek and talk and listen to podcasts or listen to certain things that will help you get information,” she said. “I do believe there is a lot of hope.”

Signs of bipolar disorder

About 2.8% of adults in the U.S. have experienced bipolar in the last year, while 4.4% experience it during their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Formerly called manic depression or “manic-depressive disorder,” bipolar disorder is characterized by dramatic shifts in mood, energy and activity levels, affecting the ability to carry out daily tasks.

NEW STUDY REVEALS WHY WOMEN FACE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER DEPRESSION RISK THAN MEN

This can include emotional highs, referred to as mania or hypomania, and lows, known as depression, per Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms can differ depending on bipolar type.

“You are not defined by a term.”

Manic and hypomanic episodes typically include three or more of the following symptoms:

Increased activity, energy or agitation
Feeling too self-confident, or having a distorted sense of well-being
Needing less sleep than usual
Speaking quickly or being unusually talkative
Having racing thoughts or jumping from one topic to the next
Being easily distracted
Making poor decisions

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man sits on the floor with head in hands

Major depressive episodes include symptoms like feeling sad, empty and hopeless. (iStock)

Major depressive episodes typically include five or more of the following symptoms.

Feeling depressed, sad, empty, hopeless or tearful
Having a loss of interest or feeling no pleasure in most activities
Losing weight when not dieting, or overeating and gaining weight
Sleeping too much or too little
Feeling restless or acting slower than usual
Feeling very tired or losing energy
Feeling worthless or guilty when unnecessary
Struggling with thinking or concentrating, leading to an inability to make decisions
Thinking about, planning or attempting suicide

man sits on couch with hand on forehead while talking with a female therapist

Formerly called manic depression or “manic-depressive disorder,” bipolar disorder is characterized by dramatic shifts in mood, energy and activity levels. (iStock)

Seeking diagnosis

Mayo Clinic encourages anyone experiencing these symptoms to seek help from a professional.

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Diagnosis can be made through a physical exam and lab testing, as well as mental health assessments and tracking of moods, sleep patterns and other factors.

After diagnosis, Mayo Clinic recommends paying attention to warning signs to prevent episodes. Getting enough sleep, taking medications as directed, and abstaining from drugs and alcohol can also help.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Gomez’s representation and Wondermind for comment.

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.

Watchdog targets taxpayer-funded National Academies over DEI, climate and transgender spending

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March 31, 2026

TRUMP-SIGNED SHUTDOWN BILL SENDS $4M TO CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS UNDER FEDERAL PROBE FOR TRANSGENDER CARE

Watchdog targets taxpayer-funded National Academies over DEI, climate and transgender spending

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A consumer watchdog group is accusing the federally funded National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine of using taxpayer dollars to support DEI, transgender-related and other left-leaning initiatives, according to a new report.

Consumers’ Research compiled the “Woke Alert” report outlining what it describes as left-leaning research, workshops and grants from the congressionally chartered institution, including projects related to transgender youth, diversity and inclusion initiatives, policing and climate advocacy.

Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research, accused the organization, which receives 70% of its budget from federal funds, of being “a radical woke organization masquerading as a nonpartisan educational institution.”

“From pushing transgender ideology onto kids to spreading ‘defund the police’ insanity, this taxpayer-supported organization regularly abuses its status and reputation to fund the left’s favorite causes,” Hild said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “It has shamefully used hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars to push a highly polarized woke agenda behind lofty BS rhetoric about independence and objectivity.”

A close-up view of the National Academy of Sciences sign at the organization’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Caspar Benson / Getty Images)

Consumers’ Research argued that NASEM has established its allegiance with left-leaning transgender ideology through its various publications, such as a workshop titled “Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth,” and a book titled “Reducing Inequalities Between Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Adolescents and Cisgender, Heterosexual Adolescents: Proceedings of a Workshop 2022.”

The report highlighted that for years, NASEM has run a variety of DEI workshops with titles including “Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations: Current Context and Challenges;” and another titled “Protecting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education and the Workforce,” which was focused on putting affirmative action in place without race-based criteria.

HHS GOLD STANDARD STUDY FLIPS ‘GENDER AFFIRMING CARE’ ON ITS HEAD AS DEMS KEEP PUSHING TRANS ISSUES AT SCOTUS

Members of Rainbow Families holding a banner and marching down a city street.

Members of Rainbow Families march from Bay Street in Sydney, Australia, as part of an action for LGBTQIA+ visibility and family rights, Feb. 22, 2025. (Steven Siewert / Getty Images)

In 2022, the National Academies partnered with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to hand out grants worth $1.15 million per recipient in an effort to promote DEI among biomedical researchers.

In response to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, NASEM established its Committee on Reducing Racial Inequalities in the Criminal Justice System. The committee evaluated a proposal to cut $50 million from Austin, Texas’s police budget.

WATCHDOG FINDS DEI, CRT BAKED INTO ACCREDITATION RULES FOR HUNDREDS OF UNIVERSITY SOCIAL-WORK PROGRAMS

The report noted that committee co-chair Bruce Western accused police officers of having “caused a great deal of harm in low-income communities and communities of color.”

In one of NASEM’s studies, researchers accused police officers of being a “leading cause of death for young men in the United States.”

The National Academies have also published multiple studies raising concerns over climate change. In one of the studies, the Academies focused on elevating techniques that would make Americans more likely to participate in climate activism.

Republicans are ramping up their election messaging on crime and law enforcement support (Getty Images)

NASEM previously came under fire in August 2025 for publishing a climate review seeking to influence the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision on whether to rescind an Obama-era greenhouse gas finding. Critics suggested that NASEM was seeking to undermine the authority of the Trump administration.

Roger Pielke Jr., a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute specializing in science and technology policy, told Fox News Digital that in recent years, the National Academies has gone from acting under the direction of Congress to acting as an “independent actor” for the interests of billionaires and foundations.

Pielke said the National Academies received funding from the Bezos Earth Fund, a Jeff Bezos project created to address climate change. Through that support, the National Academies published a manual titled “Constructing Valid Geospatial Tools for Environmental Justice.” Pielke noted that the Bezos Earth Fund funds litigation centered on climate change and argued that “there is pretty strong evidence of a bias” in the Bezos Earth Fund.

“So I think issues about conflicts of interest and bias go well beyond just funding sources,” Pielke said. “They also extend to the groups researchers choose to partner with when conducting work that is supposed to be neutral and scientific.”

Fox News Digital reached out to NASEM for comment.

Elaine Mallon is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business covering national politics.

Chile’s president vows tougher school security following recent stabbing and firearms incidents

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March 31, 2026

Chile’s president vows tougher school security following recent stabbing and firearms incidents

SANTIAGO, Chile — President José Antonio Kast said Monday that his administration will tighten security measures at Chile’s schools, following two incidents involving weapons and amid growing concern about school violence in the South American country.

The announcement follows a deadly attack Friday that left one dead and four wounded. The pledge also came on the same day that another student was detained while attempting to enter a school with a loaded firearm.

“We are going to have to take certain measures to protect our students,” Kast said at an event at a school in the capital, Santiago. “These measures, which were previously met with strong resistance, now need to be viewed differently. Society has changed.”

Last Friday, an 18-year-old student carried out a knife attack at a school in northern Chile, killing a 59-year-old school inspector and stabbing four other people, including another staff member and three students.

One of the victims remains hospitalized in critical condition, while the attacker remains in custody.

The attack is considered one of the worst cases of school violence in Chile.

Kast, leader of the Chilean far right who took office in early March, said that “the events that shock us all continue to occur,” referring to Monday’s incident, when a 15-year-old tried to enter a school carrying a loaded gun.

“Today, once again, a student was found in a school with an object capable of harming other children,” he said.

Kast announced that his government will seek to implement “measures for greater control over access to schools,” without providing further details.

Education Minister María Paz Arzola said that her office is drafting a bill that would allow teachers to inspect students’ backpacks. She also said that the government will work to expedite the implementation of metal detectors at schools.

The teenager who was arrested by the police on Monday had tried to enter a school in the city of Curicó, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of Santiago, with a gun and ammunition tucked into his waistband.

“Police arrived at the scene… they detained the minor, the weapon was seized, and they proceeded with the arrest,” Maj. Juan Díaz Serrano, of Chile’s police force, told reporters, adding that the student did not make any threats and did not “pull out the weapon to intimidate any staff member or classmate.”

While armed attacks remain rare in Chile, the nation’s high schools and universities have a storied history of activism. During the major social upheavals of 2011 and 2019, students adopted a confrontational stance against the political and business elite to demand systemic reforms.

In late 2024, more than 30 students were wounded after an explosion caused by homemade firebombs intended for use during a student protest in Santiago. In May, three students were shot and wounded during a shooting inside a school in the Bío Bío region, in what authorities described as the first school shooting in Chile.

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