The hottest Public funding Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

The Bell Finally Tolls for National Propaganda Radio

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 12633 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Public media like NPR and PBS have traditionally provided high-quality, diverse programming for Americans. They offered informative shows that were different from commercial TV.
  2. There are concerns that NPR has become too biased, promoting a certain political agenda. Many feel this undermines its role as a public broadcaster that should serve all citizens.
  3. There's debate about public funding for NPR. Some argue if it relies less on government funds, it could better address its bias and connect with a wider audience.

Why the Chicago Bears Are Threatening to Leave Illinois

Huddle Up • 173 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🎾 Sports Public funding
  1. The Bears are using the threat of building a stadium in Hammond, Indiana to push Illinois for public financing and long-term tax certainty for a new Arlington Heights stadium.
  2. Indiana lawmakers moved fast and unanimously to clear the legal path for a Hammond stadium, showing states will compete aggressively to lure the team across the border.
  3. Despite the public push toward Indiana, there are major practical problems with the Hammond proposal, so Arlington Heights still looks like the more likely outcome for the Bears.

Betsy DeVos: Shut Down the Department of Education

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 6654 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. The Department of Education has spent over $1 trillion since it started, but student performance gaps have only worsened. This shows that the department isn't fixing the issues it was made to address.
  2. Most students are falling behind, with many fourth graders struggling to read and do basic math. The scores for the lowest performing students are the worst they've ever been.
  3. The Department of Education mainly acts as a middleman that complicates funding without improving education. It doesn't run schools or employ teachers, so some believe it should be shut down.

British Political Operative Imran Ahmed Has Broken Laws, Should Be Prosecuted Before He’s Deported

The DisInformation Chronicle • 640 implied HN points • 19 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Imran Ahmed, a political operative, is accused of breaking several laws in the U.S., including lying to Congress and the IRS. There's a push for him to be prosecuted before potentially being deported.
  2. The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), which he founded, may have falsely claimed its funding sources and misrepresented its nonprofit status to the IRS.
  3. Ahmed's organization is suspected of hiding its finances and the identities of its employees, raising questions about the legitimacy of its funding and operations.
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Abortion, Every Day (1.16.24)

All in Her Head by Jessica Valenti • 2692 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Anti-abortion activists are using victim-blaming tactics to avoid acknowledging the harm caused by abortion bans, as seen in the case of Yeni Glick in Texas.
  2. Legislators in different states are introducing bills that impact reproductive rights, such as a controversial fetal personhood bill in Kentucky and concerns about abortion access in Illinois.
  3. Various efforts are being made to protect abortion rights and improve reproductive health services, including legal battles, political campaigns, and initiatives to provide accurate information to the public.

Australia Unveils Plan To Fight "Antisemitism" By Crushing Free Speech

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1825 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Australia has introduced a plan to fight antisemitism that critics say might infringe on free speech. People are concerned this approach could silence legitimate criticism of Israel.
  2. The plan includes penalties for universities and media that are seen as promoting antisemitism, which some view as an attempt to control what can be said about Israel's actions.
  3. Many believe the real issue is not antisemitism but the public's outrage over violence and genocide in Gaza. The criticism often gets labeled antisemitic, making it hard to have open discussions.

Transcript - America This Week, July 17, 2025: "The Reverse Struggle Session, and NPR's Greatest Hits"

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 956 implied HN points • 19 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Colleges are using new methods to judge students based on traits like empathy and curiosity. This involves students rating each other during group discussions online.
  2. Public media funding is facing challenges, with a recent vote impacting the future of organizations like PBS and NPR.
  3. There seems to be a collapse in customer service in the hospitality industry, as staff focus more on following corporate scripts rather than solving actual problems for guests.

How much 'queering' of society is being funded by the New Zealand taxpayer?

A B’Old Woman • 499 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Some events funded by New Zealand taxpayers focus on LGBTQIA+ issues, which some believe changed societal norms.
  2. There are concerns about how these events may influence public perception and attitudes toward gender and sexuality.
  3. Debates exist regarding the appropriateness of using taxpayer money to support these initiatives and their impact on society.

New Zealand women’s sports gets a timely Christmas present.

A B’Old Woman • 719 implied HN points • 23 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. New Zealand's government is changing sports funding rules to stop public money from going to organizations that allow transgender athletes to compete in women's sports. This is seen as a win for protecting women's sports.
  2. Mainstream media coverage of this issue seems to focus more on the negative impacts for transgender athletes rather than highlighting the benefits for female athletes. Many believe it’s important to prioritize women’s rights in sports.
  3. Polls show that many New Zealanders oppose allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports. There's a call for sports organizations to think harder about how to create fair competition, rather than just following easy policies.

Hospital rebuild plans ‘progressing at pace' and ‘fairly simple’ says health boss

NN Journal • 735 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Public funding
  1. Hospital rebuild plans for Kettering General Hospital are progressing quickly and smoothly.
  2. The hospital's director noted that the project is considered 'fairly simple' compared to others due to its location and lack of lengthy land sales and planning permissions.
  3. Some car parking on the site will be lost during the construction of a new energy center, resulting in a reduction in staff parking.

Big Bird Saves Public TV

Life Since the Baby Boom • 691 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Public TV often gets funding cuts proposed by some politicians, but it survives by rallying support from well-loved characters like Mr. Rogers and Big Bird.
  2. There are worries about biased reporting from public media, especially from NPR and PBS, which some say have a liberal lean. This has led to calls for directing funding to other media outlets.
  3. Instead of completely defunding public broadcasting, it might be better to diversify funding, allowing support for a wider range of media that reflects different viewpoints.

Missouri is Dead Last in Starting Teacher Pay

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper • 298 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Missouri ranks dead last in starting teacher pay and 49th in rural teacher pay, which impacts both teachers and students in the state.
  2. Despite having a $2 billion surplus, Missouri's GOP supermajority has not addressed the teacher pay issue and is instead diverting funding to private religious schools via vouchers.
  3. Many rural Missouri schools have shifted to a 4-day week to cope with low pay, presenting challenges for both teachers and parents in these areas.

Follow the Money...

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper • 378 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. The topic of school funding can lead to hateful and extreme rhetoric, especially from those pushing for privatization of public schools.
  2. There is a concerted effort by certain groups to defund public schools and redirect funds to private, often unaccountable institutions.
  3. Extreme rhetoric against public school advocates is often driven by profit-seeking individuals and politicians, rather than genuine concern for children's education.

How we discovered Fauci's secret $15 million taxpayer-funded security detail

The Dossier • 341 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Dr. Fauci has received a $15 million security detail funded by taxpayers even after leaving his government job. This detail provided him with constant protection, which is unusual for someone who is no longer in office.
  2. The details about this security arrangement were hidden for a long time, and it took over a year of work to uncover this information. It highlights the challenges involved in obtaining transparency from government agencies.
  3. Many Americans are upset about the misuse of taxpayer funds for Fauci's security while others, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., were denied similar protections. This has sparked calls for more accountability regarding how public money is spent.

Governments Can NEVER Invest

Points And Figures • 612 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Government spending comes from taxpayers, and it doesn't contribute to GDP or create wealth.
  2. Governments often misallocate funds by investing in private industries and projects that don't benefit the taxpayers directly.
  3. Government spending can crowd out private investment, impacting competition and innovation.

Abolishing the Dept of Education

David Friedman’s Substack • 260 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Abolishing the Department of Education could mean different things, like removing it while keeping funding the same, or fully taking away its control and funding.
  2. One suggestion is to give education funds directly to states to let them decide how to use the money, which might keep education more local.
  3. Another idea is to create a voucher program, giving parents the choice of where to send their kids for education, potentially including various types of schools.

Saving the National AI Research Resource & my AI policy outlook

Democratizing Automation • 126 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. The National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) is crucial for connecting the government, big tech, and academic institutions to enhance AI research in the U.S. It aims to provide resources to support AI development for everyone, not just major companies.
  2. NAIRR is facing funding uncertainties, as it relies on congressional approval to continue beyond 2024. If it loses funding, it could hinder academic progress in AI, making it harder for smaller players to compete.
  3. There is a growing concern about state legislation regulating AI. As federal policies shift, states might create laws that can affect how open-source models are used, which poses risks for academic institutions.

The Problem With Neoliberalism

Integrity Talk • 33 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Neoliberalism focuses on free markets with less government control, believing this helps things like trade and competition. However, it can make services like healthcare and education more expensive for many people.
  2. There's a debate about whether the government should step in to support innovation. Some think government help is crucial for success in tech, while neoliberals argue the market can self-regulate better.
  3. Neoliberalism isn't just about cutting government spending; it's also about finding a balance. Some government support can be important for big projects, while markets are good at improving technologies quickly.

In 2021, 72% of UnitedHealth’s $222.9 billion revenue came from taxpayers.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 259 implied HN points • 27 Jan 22
🏥 Health Politics Public funding
  1. In 2021, most of UnitedHealth's revenue, about 72%, came from taxpayer money, highlighting their dependence on government programs.
  2. The majority of UnitedHealth's growth in the last decade came from government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, not from private insurance.
  3. Healthcare costs for families are rising, with premiums and deductibles taking a larger slice of their income compared to a decade ago.

Big insurer Anthem took in $38 billion in the first 3 months of 2022. Most of it by far came from taxpayers.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 199 implied HN points • 28 Apr 22
🏥 Health Politics Public funding
  1. Anthem's revenue has shifted significantly, with most of its income now coming from taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid rather than private-paying customers.
  2. The employer-based health insurance system is declining rapidly as many employers can no longer afford to provide coverage, affecting the number of private-paying customers.
  3. Despite growing profits largely from private-paying clients, many of Anthem's customers are struggling to afford out-of-pocket costs, leading to increased financial hardships.

Inside the Billion-Dollar Battle for the Kansas City Chiefs

Huddle Up • 26 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🎾 Sports Public funding
  1. The Kansas City Chiefs are struggling to secure funding for a new stadium, as a recent taxpayer proposal was rejected. This reflects a larger trend where sports teams are finding it hard to get public money for their facilities.
  2. The Chiefs wanted to extend a small sales tax to help pay for renovations and secure their future in Kansas City, but voters didn't agree. It's notable that this tax has been around for almost twenty years.
  3. Other teams, like the Arizona Coyotes, have faced similar issues, showing that many franchises are looking for ways to bypass public votes to get funding. The situation highlights the challenges in sports financing today.

Newsom, Inc.

OpenTheBooks Substack • 245 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. California's Newsom family is involved in a scheme of creating and solving problems to financially benefit themselves.
  2. Jennifer Siebel Newsom leverages taxpayer money to promote her nonprofit's films and curricula in public schools, potentially profiting personally.
  3. The establishment of the 'Office of First Partner' by Governor Newsom allowed Jennifer Siebel Newsom to push radical ideologies, influence policy, and receive significant taxpayer funding.

🤑 Billionare Logic

UnfairNation by Ehsan Zaffar • 6 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding
  1. Elon Musk is cutting funding for public news outlets like NPR and PBS, but keeps getting lots of money for his companies from the government.
  2. In the past, people have strongly defended public broadcasting when it was threatened, showing the importance of having diverse news sources.
  3. There are many job opportunities in the impact sector, with various organizations looking for talented individuals to fill important roles.