Cheating
What to know: A transgender high school student who thinks he’s a girl has swept a track meet in California, where he dominated three jumping events.
The TPPF take: We must protect girls’ and women’s sports.
“It is illegal in Texas for men and boys to compete in women’s and girls’ sports in both public school and college, but not in California where the state just filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, charging it is their right to keep a boy on the women’s volleyball team at San Jose State,” says TPPF’s Sherry Sylvester. “San Jose State essentially shut down women’s volleyball in the Mountain West in 2024 when almost half the teams forfeited their games rather than risk injury by playing against a team with a male player.”
For more on women’s sports, click here.
Robot Cars
What to know: A glitch caused a number of Waymo driverless taxis to get stuck in an Atlanta cul-de-sac last week.
The TPPF take: Just as with all other technology, self-driving vehicles are a tool that can induce positive and negative outcomes.
“As a first principle, and for the sake of innovation broadly, it is crucial that Texas continue to hold the line on the regulation-heavy instincts of states like California and Illinois,” says TPPF’s David Dunmoyer. “With responsible guardrails in place and the ingredients for an innovative hotspot, Texas will continue to lead the nation as the exemplar of responsible technology that seeks to serve humanity, and not the other way around.”
For more on self-driving cars, click here.
Defending Children
What to know: An Arizona congressman has filed a federal version of Kayleigh’s Law, which would help protect the victims of sex crimes, even after their abusers get out of jail.
The TPPF take: After sentencing, victims often have limited transparency or notification when an offender becomes eligible for release or parole.
“Kayleigh’s Law in Arizona was a response to that gap, grounded in a simple idea: A victim’s pain and trauma do not end at sentencing,” says TPPF’s Brett Tolman. “True justice includes their ongoing protection, dignity and ability to rebuild their lives in peace. Federal law should reflect a uniform standard that ensures victims are not left vulnerable or re-traumatized once an offender’s sentence is complete.”
For more on Kayleigh’s Law, click here.