London's bridges are falling down, and some are now closed indefinitely. Yet councils can find money for endless climate-saving schemes despite supposedly having none for bridges. This is no accident, says Ben Pile.
The post London is Letting its Bridges Fall Down to ‘Save the Climate’ appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Migration helps grow New York's Democrat government, Governor Kathy Hochul told Politico.com.
The post Governor Hochul: Migration Grows New York’s State Government appeared first on Breitbart.
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There are a lot of financial concerns surrounding retirement, and choosing where to live might be one of the biggest challenges.
Unless you've managed to stockpile a large sum of money for retirement, the everyday costs of living could factor into your decision to retire altogether.
US News & World Report analyzed over 850 cities based on quality of life, affordability, healthcare, retiree taxes, job market, and population and migration for retirees 55 and older to rank what cities work best for retirees.
Affordability was a key factor in this year's list, as the pathway to a comfortable retirement isn't smooth for everyone.
"It's no secret that affordability is top of mind for Americans this year, which is why US News updated its weighting criteria to better align with what retirees prioritize," US News & World Report assistant managing editor Megan Wood said. "The 2027 rankings reflect key metrics used to highlight the places that best suit retiree needs."
The six factors used when ranking each city came from a survey of Americans 45 and older to determine what mattered most to them when considering where to retire.
The cliché of retiring to Florida still holds true, as two Florida cities ranked in the top 15. But Texas has become an even hotter spot for retirees. While last year's list included three Texas cities, this year's list has six, with two in the top five.
Texas' overall affordability makes it a popular choice not only for retirees but for other generations as well.
"Retirees are seeking a place that gives them a sense of security and comfort as they live out their golden years," Wood said.
While cities in Florida and Texas account for more than half of the top 15, neither city holds the top spot. Below, the best cities to retire in for 2027.
DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $191,261
Value index: 9
Population 65+: 17%
Photosbyjam/Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $323,622
Value index: 7.9
Population 65+: 15%
halbergman/Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $343,369
Value index: 8
Population 65+: 13%
ianmcdonnell/Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $200,767
Value index: 9.3
Population 65+: 17%
halbergman/Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $290,274
Value index: 6
Population 65+: 21%
Jeff Cassetta/Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $380,019
Value index: 7.5
Population 65+: 30%
SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $222,789
Value index: 7.5
Population 65+: 15%
larrybraunphotography.com/Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $161,025
Value index: 9.2
Population 65+: 19%
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Housing costs 2025: $115,035
Value index: 8.1
Population 65+: 19%
DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $311,135
Value index: 6.2
Population 65+: 19%
John Coletti/Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $249,404
Value index: 8.6
Population 65+: 12%
raeva/Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $472,814
Value index: 6.6
Population 65+: 15%
Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $124,681
Value index: 7.6
Population 65+: 26%
: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $219,352
Value index: 8.8
Population 65+: 30%
Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images
Housing costs 2025: $206,176
Value index: 8.7
Population 65+: 21%
OakCityDrone/Getty Images
The US population has grown by roughly 58 million since 2000, but the nation's biggest cities aren't the only areas seeing increases.
Whether it's suburbs next to urban areas or towns that have become hot spots in their own right, all 50 states are seeing population growth in small- and medium-sized towns.
Business Insider used the latest five-year Census population estimates, covering July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2025, to calculate the population growth percentage for each state's towns and cities over the period.
Census population estimates are revised every year, so some 2020 figures differ slightly from estimates published in previous years.
To avoid municipalities with negligible populations, we considered only places with more than 1,000 residents in the 2020 population estimates. We also excluded unincorporated areas and Census-designated places belonging to a larger city. Of the 50 places, most have populations under 20,000.
Here's each state's fastest-growing city or town.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 3,003
2025 population: 5,244
Percentage growth: 75%
Sitting in the northern region of Alabama along the Tennessee River, Triana was named the fourth-best suburb to live in Alabama by Niche, a real-estate and education ranking platform.
Jan Miracky/Getty Images
2020 population: 9,113
2025 population: 10,556
Percentage growth: 16%
Wasilla sits roughly 40 miles north of Anchorage, the state's largest city. As of 2020, Wasilla had just 732 residents per square mile, according to Census data.
apollob66/Getty Images
2020 population: 13,425
2025 population: 19,959
Percentage growth: 49%
Coolidge sits between Phoenix and Tucson and is home to the site of the Casa Grande Ruins, containing fragments of Native American structures. Sitting in the Sonoran Desert, the town sees frequent daily temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.
Roberto Galan/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,672
2025 population: 3,676
Percentage growth: 120%
Highfill is about 15 miles away from Bentonville, Arkansas, and is near the Northwest Arkansas National Airport.
Chris Allan/Getty Images
2020 population: 5,090
2025 population: 10,023
Percentage growth: 97%
The rapid growth can largely be attributed to Paradise's recovery after the 2018 Camp Fire, which ravaged the community. Per the Census, the town had over 26,000 residents in 2010, and is still rebuilding after being at the heart of the deadliest fire in the state's history.
Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
2020 population: 1,710
2025 population: 2,957
Percentage growth: 73%
Elizabeth is about 40 miles from Denver, making it popular for those seeking a rural life while living within commuting distance of Colorado's economic hub, according to a report by Outside.
miroslav_1/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,554
2025 population: 2,391
Percentage growth: 54%
Woodmont, a borough of Milford, is a popular summer destination, according to the Connecticut Tourism Office. It is about 7 miles away from New Haven.
Rolf Karlsson/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,938
2025 population: 2,653
Percentage growth: 37%
In 2000, Cheswold had just over 300 residents, per the Census.
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2020 population: 1,048
2025 population: 9,042
Percentage growth: 763%
Westlake was formerly farmland before the land was purchased by Minto Group, a real-estate company with development plans for the area. The town only officially became a municipality in 2016.
Occupying over 6 miles of land, Westlake has thousands of single-family residential homes with more under construction, according to the town.
Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 2,775
2025 population: 8,623
Percentage growth: 211%
Hoschton lies about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta and 30 miles northwest of Athens.
Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images
2020 population: 200,744
2025 population: 210,043
Percentage growth: 4.6%
Hawaii holds the distinction of being the only US state without official incorporated municipalities. The state's towns are governed at the county level.
Of the five counties — Hawai'i, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kaua'i, and Maui — Hawai'i County, commonly known as the "Big Island," reported the largest population growth from 2020 to 2025.
christiannafzger/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 11,488
2025 population: 20,874
Percentage growth: 82%
Star is located just 15 miles northwest of Boise.
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2020 population: 4,004
2025 population: 5,593
Percentage growth: 40%
Wonder Lake sits just below the Illinois-Wisconsin border, about 65 miles between Milwaukee and Chicago.
Wirestock/Getty Images
2020 population: 10,383
2025 population: 15,767
Percentage growth: 52%
Whitestown, which is just over 20 miles northwest of Indianapolis, is home to more than 50 acres of parks and 13 miles of trails.
Aaron Yoder/Getty Images
2020 population: 4,625
2025 population: 7,156
Percentage growth: 55%
The fast-growing suburb sits F. W. Kent County Park, a sought-after destination in the state for outdoor activities. Tiffin is located 22 miles south of Cedar Rapids.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 5,818
2025 population: 7,853
Percentage growth: 35%
It takes under 20 minutes to drive from Maize to central Wichita.
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2020 population: 2,061
2025 population: 2,387
Percentage growth: 16%
Nashville is the nearest major city to Elkton, located about 60 miles south of the town.
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2020 population: 2,185
2025 population: 3,215
Percentage growth: 47%
Maurice is just southwest of Lafayette, Louisiana's fourth-largest city.
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2020 population: 1,440
2025 population: 1,743
Percentage growth: 21%
Far from the cities of Portland and Bangor, Greenville is located further inland at the southern tip of Moosehead Lake, the state's largest freshwater body, according to Visit Maine. Greenville sits roughly 60 miles from the US-Canada border.
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2020 population: 1,177
2025 population: 1,517
Percentage growth: 29%
Trappe has seen growth in population in part because of a modern housing development, Lakeside at Trappe.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 5666
2025 population: 6477
Percentage growth: 14%
Bolton is about 18 miles northeast of Worcester and about 40 miles west of Boston.
Editor's Note: Amherst had the largest estimated population increase from 2020 to 2025, but Business Insider chose second-place Bolton because Amherst’s unusually low 2020 estimate could have been distorted by pandemic-era student departures.
Roberto Galan/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,271
2025 population: 1,626
Percentage growth: 28%
Manton was a finalist in Reader's Digest's "Nicest Place in America" ranking in 2021.
Melissa Kopka/Getty Images
2020 population: 7,432
2025 population: 11,402
Percentage growth: 53%
Dayton is a relatively wealthy suburb, with a high homeownership rate and a median household income of $148,947 in 2024, per 2024 Census data. Dayton is under 30 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
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2020 population: 1,777
2025 population: 2,299
Percentage growth: 29%
Sumrall sits just over 15 miles northwest of Hattiesburg, Mississippi's fifth-largest city.
ChrisBoswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 3,897
2025 population: 5,754
Percentage growth: 48%
According to 2024 Census data, there are about 2.98 households per resident in Rogersville, which is above the national average.
The town is located 20 miles east of Springfield.
GummyBone/Getty Images
2020 population: 25,263
2025 population: 31,851
Percentage growth: 26%
According to the 2024 Census data, Kalispell is the seventh-largest city in Montana by population and the eighth-largest by land area.
Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images
2020 population: 2,655
2025 population: 3,663
Percentage growth: 38%
Hickman's population has more than tripled since 2000, per the Census. The town is under 20 miles south of Lincoln, the state's capital city.
Moiseii Production/Getty Images
2020 population: 20,608
2025 population: 24,001
Percentage growth: 16%
Mesquite sits in the Mojave Desert and borders Arizona. The nearest major city is Las Vegas, roughly 80 miles southwest of Mesquite.
Wirestock/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 7,153
2025 population: 7,973
Percentage growth: 11%
The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute attributed Epping's population growth to its proximity to major state highways and economic hubs in the Seacoast, Merrimack Valley, and Boston.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,445
2025 population: 2,135
Percentage growth: 48%
Seaside Park neighbors Seaside Heights, a popular Jersey Shore destination known for its amusement park.
Lily Kimei/Getty Images
2020 population: 17,454
2025 population: 20,572
Percentage growth: 18%
Los Lunas has held significance at different points in American history, including its use as a bombing range after World War II, according to the Center for Land Use Interpretation.
The town is about 20 miles south of Albuquerque.
Jonathan Novack/Getty Images
2020 population: 33,507
2025 population: 47,147
Percentage growth: 41%
Kiryas Joel, coterminous with the town of Palm Tree, has a predominantly Hasidic Jewish population and covers only 1.46 square miles, according to the 2020 Census.
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2020 population: 9,997
2025 population: 19,687
Percentage growth: 97%
Wendell is within 20 miles of Raleigh, North Carolina's second most populous city. The growth is expected to continue, with 1,900 new homes under construction in the town, the area's ABC 11 reported.
Sanghwan Kim/Getty Images
2020 population: 3,249
2025 population: 7,001
Percentage growth: 115%
Horace is a suburb of Fargo, North Dakota's largest city by population, and is itself the 13th most populous city in the state.
Sanghwan Kim/Getty Images
2020 population: 2,147
2025 population: 4,164
Percentage growth: 94%
South Bloomfield is located 20 miles south of Columbus.
RudyBalasko/Getty Images
2020 population: 11,171
2025 population: 15,198
Percentage growth: 36%
A suburb of Oklahoma City, Newcastle appeared on 24/7 Wall St.'s "The Best City to Live in Every State" list in 2019.
Demujin/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 4,531
2025 population: 5,814
Percentage growth: 28%
Estacada is roughly 30 miles southeast of Portland.
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2020 population: 2,765
2025 population: 3,734
Percentage growth: 35%
Lancaster Township is a small municipality in Butler County, western Pennsylvania, and is separate from the much larger city of Lancaster in southeastern Pennsylvania. It's about 34 miles north of Pittsburgh.
miroslav_1/Getty Images
2020 population: 9,984
2025 population: 10,612
Percentage growth: 6.3%
Glocester, seated 20 miles northwest of Providence, contains the villages of Harmony and Chepachet.
Norm Lane/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 7,764
2025 population: 16,459
Percentage growth: 112%
Located under 20 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, Hardeeville has historically had the nickname "The Lowcountry Host" for its many hotels and accommodations for travelers, per the Hardeeville Police Department.
GummyBone/Getty Images
2020 population: 6,845
2025 population: 10,405
Percentage growth: 52%
Harrisburg, just 10 miles south of Sioux Falls, has 3.7 miles of land area, per 2020 Census data.
csfotoimages/Getty Images
2020 population: 38,908
2025 population: 53,412
Percentage growth: 37%
Located 30 minutes east of Nashville, Lebanon is becoming a population hub in its own right. The town is home to the Nashville Superspeedway and Cumberland University.
Kruck20/Getty Images
2020 population: 2,283
2025 population: 10,208
Percentage growth: 347%
Josephine, 40 miles northeast of Dallas, is experiencing a major housing boom. Companies like D.R. Horton are constructing developments with hundreds of homes, and the low cost of living in the area is attracting a lot of millennial first-time homebuyers, Business Insider's Alcynna Lloyd reported.
George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty Images
2020 population: 38,318
2025 population: 61,397
Percentage growth: 60%
Saratoga Springs sits along Utah Lake and is among Utah's 15 most populous cities. Saratoga Springs has a reputation for safety, with its total crime rate 69% below the national average, per Best Utah Real Estate.
vermontalm/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,581
2025 population: 2,583
Percentage growth: 63%
The town, a distinct municipality from the neighboring city of Newport, is just over 5 miles south of the US-Canada border and is one of Vermont's least populous municipalities.
krblokhin/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,993
2025 population: 2,244
Percentage growth: 13%
Louisa is located roughly 50 miles northwest of Richmond.
portgrimes/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 10,875
2025 population: 16,132
Percentage growth: 48%
Located near Vancouver, Washington, Ridgefield has a history as a Native American village site, which was visited during the Lewis and Clark expedition, the city says.
Robert Knopes/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
2020 population: 6,529
2025 population: 9,329
Percentage growth: 43%
Charles Town was notably founded by Charles Washington, the youngest brother of President George Washington, according to the city.
Jon Mattrisch/Getty Images
2020 population: 1,419
2025 population: 2,057
Percentage growth: 45%
Lannon's growth can largely be attributed to new investments in the town, such as housing developments, TMJ 4 Milwaukee reported. Lannon is located about 20 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
htrnr/Getty Images/iStockphoto
2020 population: 1,229
2025 population: 1,382
Percentage growth: 13%
Alpine sits on the Idaho-Wyoming border and is near Jackson, one of the state's 10 most populous cities.
© Jenn Ackerman for The New York Times
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has released a Spanish-language video advising immigrants on how to respond to encounters with federal immigration agents, explaining their rights and directing residents to city-run assistance hotlines.
RELATED: Trump Backs ICE After Shooting Sparks New York Protests
In the video, posted Friday on Instagram, Mamdani explains that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents cannot enter private spaces without a judicial warrant. He advises residents to ask agents to slide the warrant under the door so they can examine it.
Without a warrant, residents can refuse entry and keep the door closed, he says. The video also addresses encounters in public, reminding immigrants that they have the right to remain silent if stopped by ICE.
Mamdani advises residents to ask agents, “Am I free to go?” If the answer is yes, they can leave calmly. He also urges immigrants to consult a lawyer before signing any documents or making decisions about their immigration cases.
If you encounter ICE, here's what every New Yorker should know. pic.twitter.com/hrjL8JPLyr
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) October 23, 2026
The mayor points viewers to two municipal assistance hotlines and reassures them that they are not alone.
“Another thing: the Constitution gives you the right to protest, and we will protect that right,” Mamdani says. “These are frightening times for many people, but as your mayor, I will fight every day to protect, support and celebrate our communities.”
Since taking office in January, Mamdani has pledged to uphold New York’s sanctuary-city policies, which limit cooperation between municipal authorities and federal immigration enforcement. He has also vowed to protect immigrant residents amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policy during his second term.
© Dakota Santiago for The New York Times
The European Parliament has called for more spending to build affordable houses — using funds for regional development that currently make up a third of the EU budget.
Cohesion funds should be used to protect the ‘right to stay’ in rural areas or in small cities, a principle that the parliament wants to write into the new budget legislation.
Peripheral regions often face depopulation due to few job opportunities, according to a parliamentary non-binding report passed with 601 votes in favour, 20 against, and 36 abstentions on Tuesday (20 October).
MEPs are also calling for strong cohesion funds that would allow cities to better prepare for climate emergencies and provide a budget for additional investments in housing.
Cohesion funds, which account for a total of €48.03bn in the existing 2021-2027 EU budget, usually finance infrastructure projects, like bridges, roads, or railways in countries with a lower-than-average per capita gross national income.
The commission proposed significant cuts to reduce regional funds in the next multi-annual budget, set to cover 2028-34, but a group of 16 member states, often benefitting from the funding, opposed the reduction.
Regional development plays a key role in European integration since it is the “only instrument which can unite all of us,” and should not be reduced in the next EU budget, said Left Lithuanian MEP Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis during a plenary debate on Monday (19 October).
Cohesion funds “could be the response to the radicalisation of Europe,” Fredis Beleris, a German centre-right MEP said.
For that to happen, cohesion funds must be accessible for small and medium-sized cities, who often struggle with formalities linked to EU funds, said Denis Nesci, Italian conservative MEP spearheading the file.
Small municipalities should be able to access cohesion funds “on an equal footing as bigger cities,” he said, echoing the dominant centre-right commission’s position and its aim to simplify regulations.
The highly coveted Michelin Guide stars, shining over Athens and Santorini, have just been announced. Greece now boasts a total of 21 stars across the regions currently covered by the guide. The prestigious Michelin stars for Greece have been announced. Beyond Athens, the famous guide’s inspectors have now also visited Santorini and Thessaloniki. In fact, […]
The post Michelin stars: Greece’s gastronomy boasts with 21 stars in three regions appeared first on Keep Talking Greece.
Yesterday, in United States v. City of New York, yet another federal court ruled against the Trump administration in a sanctuary city case. "Sanctuary" jurisdictions are state and local governments that restrict their law enforcement agencies and other employees from assisting federal immigration enforcement and deportation efforts in various ways. In this case, Judge Reyes of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York upheld New York City laws restricting local law enforcement information-sharing and other assistance to federal immigration enforcers.
The court ruled that federal law does not preempt these policies, and that if if it did, there would be a violation of the anti-commandeering requirements of the Tenth Amendment:
Even were the Court to find that the United States has standing and the challenged provisions are preempted—both answered in the negative above—United States' claims would still fail because the anticommandeering doctrine of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States precludes relief.
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." U.S. Const. amend. X….
The United States argues it is "not seeking to compel participation in immigration enforcement … but rather to remove Defendants' express and implicit obstacles to the Executive's duty to carry out its immigration enforcement duties…." New York City replies "if accepted, [the United States' claims] would require the City to affirmatively assist the federal government in enforcing immigration laws in violation of the Tenth Amendment's anticommandeering doctrine…." New York City is correct, at least partially.
The United States seeks injunctive and declaratory relief to preempt the challenged provisions… If the challenged provisions were struck, while New York City would not be obligated to carry out federal immigration enforcement, they would be barred from prohibiting their agencies and employees from engaging in federal immigration enforcement by expending personnel, property, and other resources to (1) detain individuals and (2) implement inter-agency information-sharing, including disclosing personally identifiable information, all potentially in violation of state law. And of course, there is nothing within federal law that obligates states to participate in federal immigration enforcement or compels states to comply therewith.
The United States' preemption arguments amount to nothing more than a backdoor around the Tenth Amendment and rest on a false distinction between (a) compelling local governments' participation in federal immigration enforcement and (b) prohibiting local governments from dictating how their personnel and other resources may be utilized towards federal immigration enforcement….. "
The basic principle—that Congress cannot issue direct orders to state legislatures—applies" to commands for "affirmative action" and the imposition of "prohibitions." Murphy [v. NCAA], 584 U.S. at 455 (citation modified). If states cannot remain free to control their agencies and employees to resist federal immigration enforcement, which is within states' constitutional prerogatives, the Tenth Amendment anticommandeering doctrine means nothing.
This reasoning is correct. And it is notable that this ruling - like many others protecting sanctuary cities - relies heavily on the Supreme Court's 2018 anti-commandeering decision in Murphy v. NCAA, written by Justice Samuel Alito (probably the Court's most conservative justice), and joined by all the other conservatives then on the Court. In that case, the Court emphasized that the anti-commandeering doctrine bars Congress from dictating the actions of state and local legislatures, regardless of whether the dictation takes the form of an affirmative mandate, or a prohibition against legalizing or barring something under state law.
Judge Reyes also rejects the administration's argument under the "intergovernmental immunity" doctrine, which bars states and localities from directly regulating federal agencies or "discriminating" against them. Like the court in the recent case of United States v. New Jersey, he correctly emphasizes that there can be no discrimination when there is no other comparable activity that gets more favorable treatment under the sanctuary jurisdiction's policies:
"Differential treatment is critical to a discrimination-based intergovernmental immunity claim." New York, 814 F. Supp. 3d at 282….; "[A] comparator is necessary." New York, 810 F. Supp. 3d at 353. The United States discrimination claim fails for lack of a comparator.
The United States does not and cannot identify a similarly situated entity. State and local agencies and their officers do not enforce immigration law, nor do members of the public… As the United States concedes, the Federal Government holds the "exclusive charge of enforcing immigration law…." Not only are other federal law enforcement agencies with different charges differently situated, "[f]or a state law to unconstitutionally discriminate against the federal government, it must treat comparable classes of federal and non-federal employees differently, not different classes of federal employees." Illinois, 796 F. Supp. 3d at 534
I would add that, as I explained in a recent post, the entire antidiscrimination element of the intergovernmental immunity doctrine is dubious, and should probably be overturned by the Supreme Court:
[T]he whole doctrine of intergovernmental immunity strikes me as bogus, judge-made law. There is no provision in the Constitution requiring it. And the federal government is not some historically oppressed minority group protected by the antidiscrimination provisions Fourteenth Amendment. Where state and local governments are otherwise free to refuse to help the feds, that autonomy should not be forfeited merely because they choose to support potentially similar activities by state or local governments, or by the private sector. Obviously, a district court cannot refuse to obey Supreme Court precedent in this field. But I hope the Supreme Court might someday reevaluate that precedent.
This is just the most recent of a long line of defeats for Trump in sanctuary city cases, in both his first and second administration. Judge Reyes cites close to a dozen such cases over the last year alone. I summarized this jurisprudence more fully in a post covering three other recent sanctuary cases, last month:
In cases where the administration has tried to directly coerce states and localities into cooperating, courts have rightly ruled this violates the Supreme Court's "anti-commandeering" precedents, a series of decisions reached primarily by conservative justices, which hold that the federal government may not force state and local governments to help enforce federal law or carry out under federal purposes. In cases where Trump has sought to withhold federal funds from sanctuary jurisdictions, courts have (also rightly) ruled that the executive cannot impose conditions on federal grants that were not authorized by Congress and (in some cases) that the Trump conditions are unconstitutionally coercive. For my analyses of Trump II court decisions on these issues, see here, here, and here.
My 2019 Texas Law Review article surveying and assessing litigation arising from Trump's first-term attacks on sanctuary jurisdictions. There and in other writings, I also explain why immigration sanctuaries (and conservative gun sanctuaries) are beneficial, and help protect our constitutional system. See also my February 2026 Dispatch article, "In Defense of Sanctuary Cities," which provides an overview of these issues, and defends sanctuary jurisdictions on both constitutional and policy grounds.
Yesterday's ruling may be appealed. But if so, it is unlikely to be overturned.
Trump has posted a few rare wins in sanctuary cases with unusual facts, such as in the Contracts Clause case I analyzed in the September post. But, such cases are highly exceptional. And, as explained in the September post, the Contracts Clause decision has various flaws, and would not greatly impede sanctuary jurisdictions even if it survives on appeal.
Overall, Trump has been losing these kinds of cases so much that he might even get tired of losing.
The post Trump Loses Yet Another Sanctuary City Case—This Time Against New York City appeared first on Reason Magazine.
European regions and cities demand clear rules and solid financial backing to help Europe’s ailing car industry through the shift to electric vehicles (EVs). The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on Wednesday adopted an opinion on the European Commission’s Automotive Package, arguing that the transition will only succeed if regions are adequately equipped to carry it.
Regions said electrification is crucial to achieving climate-neutral road transport, but that success depends on affordability and access. They called for charging infrastructure across regions, funded by European, national and regional budgets, as well as targeted demand support in lower-income regions.
“Europe’s regions and cities have spoken with one voice: competitiveness and electrification by 2035 go hand in hand,” said María Chivite, President of the Navarre region in Spain, who drafted the opinion. Europe can only lead the transition, she argued, if regions receive “real financing”.
The Commission proposed the Automotive Package in December. It suggests a 90-percent-cut in tailpipe emissions from 2035, with the remaining 10 percent offset through low-carbon steel or e-fuels and biofuels. The CoR welcomed these temporary flexibilities but warned that they must not delay zero-emission mobility.
Brigitte Torloting, Chair of the Automotive Regions Alliance (ARA) and Vice-President of France’s Grand Est region, warned that time is short and “global competition will not wait for us”. She called for a strategy that protects automotive production in the regions, backed by strong European instruments such as “European preference.” Without a clear framework and targeted investment, she said, Europe risks losing its industrial base, from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to major suppliers.
“European preference” is an approach first introduced in the Commission’s proposal for an Industrial Accelerator Act in March and is designed to prioritise EU-based manufacturing. The Commission suggests public procurement contracts and state-subsidised industrial projects to source a minimum percentage of materials or components from European producers. For EV production, the Commission proposed that 70% of components for new cars – excluding the battery – must originate within the EU.
CoR members also welcomed the “Made in the EU” approach to strenghten European production but insisted it must be proportionate, so that SMEs and regional supply chains are not buried in red tape.
With automotive production concentrated in specific territories, the opinion also calls for targeted cohesion funding, skills and quality jobs.
According to EU figures for 2024, the automotive industry contributed 7 percent of EU gross domestic product (GDP), about EUR 170 billion in exports and supported around 13.8 million jobs, 3.5 million of them in manufacturing. According to CoR figures, the 41 regions organised in the Automotive Regions Alliance (ARA) generate more than 40 percent of EU GDP.
This story was produced by the European Newsroom (enr) in cooperation with the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). The editorial responsibility lies with the enr.
Press contact:
Theresa Sostmann
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Parts of London look like a dump. But that hasn't stopped the UN from giving Mayor Sadiq Khan an award for "improving urban life". It's all very incestuous, says Charlotte Gill: the UN is just rewarding its cronies.
The post Why Was Sadiq Khan Given a United Nations Award? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
The warning was delivered in Brussels on 12 October by Kata Tüttő, President of the European Committee of the Regions, during the opening of the European Week of Regions and Cities.
Her intervention comes as EU leaders prepare to negotiate the 2028–2034 budget, with disagreements over agricultural funding, regional development, defence, industrial competitiveness and the distribution of financial responsibilities among member states.
The Committee of the Regions warned that greater centralisation could concentrate economic opportunities in already prosperous areas while limiting other territories’ capacity to attract investment and develop essential infrastructure.
The concern goes beyond money allocated to regional development. It addresses who controls spending decisions and whether local authorities retain a meaningful role in determining how European funds are used.
EU cohesion policy has traditionally sought to reduce disparities between richer and poorer regions through investment in transport, infrastructure, education, business development and public services. While national governments administer considerable funds, regional and local authorities are frequently involved in identifying priorities and delivering projects.
The Committee argues that restructuring which concentrates decision-making at national level could weaken this arrangement. National governments may favour country-wide industrial or infrastructure programmes, while regional authorities identify specific problems arising from local conditions.
A national infrastructure strategy could prioritise major transport routes and industrial centres. Regional administrations might instead emphasise connecting smaller communities, maintaining local services or developing specialised economic activities.
The dispute concerns whether the next EU budget will maintain flexibility for regional priorities. In Belgium, Germany, Spain and Italy, regional institutions possess important responsibilities across economic development, education and infrastructure. Changes to EU spending governance could alter established relations between European, national and regional institutions.
Ireland’s rotating Council presidency has proposed reducing the Commission’s original seven-year budget plans by approximately €141 billion while largely protecting agriculture and cohesion compared with other expenditure categories.
The proposed financial framework would nevertheless remain substantially larger than the current budget. The distribution of resources remains contentious, and an overall cut does not necessarily translate into the same reduction for every region.
Effects will depend on allocation formulas, national spending plans and programme governance. Meanwhile, European institutions face demands for stronger investment in defence production, digital infrastructure, competitiveness and support for Ukraine while maintaining agricultural and regional commitments.
The Committee presented its seventh annual assessment of Europe’s regions and cities during the European Week of Regions and Cities, held in Brussels from 12 to 14 October.
The assessment examines competitiveness, resilience, public services, democratic governance and financial conditions. Regional disparities remain a significant feature of the EU economy despite decades of common investment programmes.
Large metropolitan areas often benefit from concentrations of universities, research institutions, advanced industries and capital. Less densely populated territories may struggle with demographic decline, shortages of skilled workers and the cost of maintaining infrastructure.
These differences can reinforce themselves over time. Businesses invest where suitable workers, transport networks and customers are already concentrated. Younger workers moving towards metropolitan economies may further reduce the economic prospects of communities they leave behind.
The increase in European defence expenditure introduces another dimension. Regions containing defence manufacturers, engineering firms, research institutions and military installations could benefit substantially from new spending, while others may receive little direct economic advantage.
If industrial investment concentrates in already advanced manufacturing centres, geographical disparities could widen. Conversely, procurement programmes and infrastructure investment could bring opportunities to weaker regional economies with suitable facilities and labour.
The Committee of the Regions has limited formal authority over the EU’s long-term budget. National governments will negotiate the framework, and the European Parliament must consent to the final agreement.
Regional leaders are seeking to influence those negotiations before political compromises are established. Their central argument is that aggregate European economic growth alone does not capture the distribution of investment, employment and public services across the Union.
The approaching European Council negotiations will indicate whether governments intend to preserve regional influence over EU spending or concentrate greater authority over investment decisions at national level.
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