Fox News Tops July Ratings, But All Major News Networks See Decline Vs. 2024's Election Year Frenzy
That's not much of a surprise, as the month last year was a blockbuster one for news, with the Trump assassination attempt, the Republican National Convention and Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the presidential race.
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In primetime for July, 2025, Fox News averaged 2.41 million viewers, down 30%, compared to MSNBC with 865,000, down 27%, and CNN with 497,000, down 42%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 257,000, down 48%, while CNN posted 92,000, down 55%, and MSNBC had 81,000, down 40%.
In total day, Fox News averaged 1.53 million, down 19%, while MSNBC posted 530,000, down 26%, and CNN averaged 370,000, down 29%. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 184,000, down 31%, while CNN posted 62,000, down 44%, and MSNBC was at 52,000, off by 37%.
Fox News' The Five topped all cable news shows, averaging 3.53 million, followed by Jesse Watters Primetime with 3.14 million, Gutfeld! with 2.91 million, Hannity with 2.67 million and Special Report with 2.61 million.
In the 25-54 demo, The Five led with 378,000, followed by Gutfeld! with 327,000, Jesse Watters Primetime with 323,000, Hannity with 302,000 and Special Report with 288,000.
MSNBC's top regularly scheduled show was the once-a-week The Rachel Maddow Show, averaging 2.02 million viewers. CNN's top show was Anderson Cooper 360, averaging 573,000. Maddow also was the top show for MSNBC in the 25-54 demo, averaging 219,000. Newsnight was CNN's top show in the 25-54 demo, averaging 116,000.
Other highlights: MSNBC noted that their new evening programs, The Briefing with Jen Psaki and The Weeknight have grown in the 25-54 demo since their launches in May. CNN pointed to the premiere of Live Aid: When Rock 'n' Roll Took on the World, drawing 795,000 in total viewers, the best performance for an original series premiere since February 2024, and a testament to Gen X nostalgia.
Meanwhile, Fox News' daytime The Will Cain Show averaged 2.1 million viewers and 249,000 in the 25-54 demo, ranking in the top 10 among all cable news shows in total viewers and the demo, in what is turning out to be one of the year's most successful launches.
Among other networks, Nexstar's NewsNation grew its total day audience by 6%, to 55,000, and its 25-54 number grew by 13% to 9,000. That's still a fraction of rivals, but in the middle of summer with plenty of distractions, all networks tout gains.
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Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs live updates: Trump says India will face 25% tariffs, holds firm on Aug. 1 deadline
President Trump said Wednesday that goods from India will face a 25% tariff when entering the US beginning on Friday, a signal that negotiations toward a larger deal have stalled ahead of his self-imposed Aug. 1 deadline. 'India has been a good friend, but India has charged basically more tariffs than almost any other country," Trump said via a post on Truth Social. Trump also accused India of buying its military equipment from Russia. "ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST," Trump posted. Trump also again said he would not extend Friday's deadline for tariffs to kick in to levels outlined by deals or letters Trump has sent to country leaders. "THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE IS THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE — IT STANDS STRONG, AND WILL NOT BE EXTENDED. A BIG DAY FOR AMERICA!!!" Trump said. Trump confirmed this week that 15% represents the new tariff "floor" for countries, whose rates he has been dictating to leaders in the absence of trade deals. Meanwhile, the US and China concluded their latest round of tariff and trade talks in Sweden on Tuesday, with both sides touting progress but without an immediate announcement of a further tariff delay. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Trump would make the final call on extending the trade truce between the world's two largest economies. This week's talks were the third round for the countries, which have slowly deescalated trade tensions since Trump imposed gargantuan tariffs in April, and China reciprocated. The countries suspended those tariffs for 90 days — a suspension that is set to end on Aug. 12. Bessent said another 90-day extension is possible. Also, the US and EU are racing to lock in the final details of their major new trade deal before Friday. Top EU critics say it's a rushed fix. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the outcome unsatisfying and France's Bayrou dubbed the EU's "submission" a "dark day." The agreement includes a baseline tariff rate of 15% on most EU goods imported into the US. Trump called the deal 'the biggest of them all." Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world. Trump says Aug. 1 deadline will not be extended Two posts from Truth Social this morning: And: Harley-Davidson misses second-quarter profit estimates as tariffs weigh Motorcycle maker Harley Davidson (HOG) reported lower second-quarter profit and did not provide an annual forecast on Wednesday, as US President Trump's tariffs continued to weigh on the motorcycle maker. Reuters reports: Read more here. India eyes fall deadline for US deal amid Trump threats India has said that it will continue its negotiations with the US for a trade deal and hope one can be established by fall of 2025, despite President Trump's Aug. 1 deadline, where trading partners will face higher tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Luxury car brands Aston Martin and Porsche report tariff hit President Trump's tariffs have caused two automakers to either issue warnings on Wednesday or trim outlooks. British luxury carmaker Aston Martin (AML.L, ARGGY) issued a profit warning on Wednesday, citing the impact of US import tariffs and prolonged suppressed Asian demand linked to China's economic slowdown. While Volkswagen's ( VWAGY) luxury brand Porsche cut its full-year profitability target on Wednesday after the EU's trade deal with the US and reported a $462-million hit from tariffs in the first half. Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump: India may get 20% to 25% tariff but not yet final President Trump said India could face tariffs of 20% to 25%, but added the final rate isn't set yet as both countries work on a trade deal before the August 1 deadline. 'I think so,' Trump told reporters Tuesday when asked if that was a possible tariff rate for New Delhi. 'India has been a good friend, but India has charged basically more tariffs than almost any other country,' Trump said aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington from a five-day visit to Scotland. 'You just can't do that.' The US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said "more negotiations" are needed between the US and India in order to secure a trade deal, Greer's statement was made just days before the Aug. 1 deadline for higher tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Brazil asks US to spare key food products, planes from tariffs Brazil has asked the US to spare key sectors from sky-high tariffs that will take effect on Friday. Specifically, it has asked for exemptions for food products and aircraft from Embraer, the world's third-largest planemaker. More from Reuters: Brazil is facing 50% tariffs on its exports to the US from Friday. That is among the highest rates Trump has threatened in his new round of sweeping tariffs. Those levies are coming in part because of what Trump alleges is the country's unfair treatment of its former president, who is currently on trial in the country. Read more here. US-China talks end without further pause, with Trump to make 'final call' US and Chinese negotiators wrapped up two days of talks Tuesday without an immediate announcement of a further tariff delay between the world's two largest economies as markets watch closely for an offramp to avert additional duties that could be in the offing in about two weeks' time. "We're going to head back to Washington, D.C., and we're going to talk to the president about whether that's something that he wants to do," said Trade Representative Jamieson Greer after the talks concluded in Stockholm, Sweden. "The president can make a final call," he added. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added Tuesday that it was "a very fulsome two days" of talks and that another 90-day pause remains on the table with the overall tone of talks being "very constructive." Trump himself was asked later in the afternoon about the chances of approval, telling reporters on Air Force One he had just spoken to Bessent and that he would decide after a briefing but that Bessent felt good about Tuesday's meeting. Read more here. US goods trade deficit hits nearly 2-year low as imports tumble The US trade deficit in goods narrowed in June to its lowest in nearly two years as imports dropped sharply. Reuters reports: Read more here. IMF edges 2025 growth forecast slightly higher, warns tariff risks still dog outlook Reuters reports: Read more here. India braces for higher US tariffs, eyes broader trade deal: Sources India is bracing itself for higher US tariffs, which will likely be between 20-25% on some exports, according to people familiar with the matter. This will be a temporary measure as it holds off on a fresh trade concession ahead of President Trump's August 1 deadline. Reuters reports: Read more here. Why markets are shrugging off lack of details in Trump trade deals The simplest reason, as explained by Siebert Financial CIO Mark Malek, is that overall progress in various trade talks suggests that worst case scenarios are being avoided "so I think for the most part we're happy." More from Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul: Read more here. Tariffs bleed into profits A few tariff mentions on earnings releases this morning that have caught my attention: P&G beats on earnings, warns of $1 billion tariff hit The consumer goods giant, Proctor and Gamble (PG) said on Tuesday that it will see a $1 billion hit to profits in its new fiscal year as a result of tariffs. Yahoo Finance's executive editor Brian Sozzi looks into the latest earnings report from makers of Tide and Pampers. Read more here. EU, US rush to clinch final details and lock in trade deal The EU and the US are rushing to finish a trade deal before the August 1 deadline. They want to agree on a joint statement that will allow the US to start cutting tariffs on some goods, like cars and car parts. After that, they will work on a final, legally binding deal. This will need approval from EU countries and maybe the European Parliament. The exact details are still being worked out. Some European leaders worry the deal might hurt their economies. But both sides are focused on finishing the deal soon to avoid more trade problems. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump official: More talks needed to clinch India deal The US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said "more negotiations" are needed between the US and India in order to secure a trade deal, Greer's statement was made just days before the Aug. 1 deadline for higher tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Rating firms say US tariffs alone will not trigger EU sovereign downgrades Reuters reports: Read more here. US trade deal eases tariff uncertainties, but risks remain: Japan Japan said on Tuesday that its trade deal with the US has removed uncertainties on but attention must be given to the risks these policies are putting on the Japanese economy. Reuters reports: Read more here. Philips soars after lifting margin outlook on softer tariff hit Royal Philips NV (PHG) stock rose 9% before the bell on Tuesday after it increased its profitability outlook as the impact of the trade war was not as severe as it feared. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Stellantis warns of $1.7B US tariff impact in 2025 Stellantis (STLA) shared updated first-half results after giving early numbers last week. The company said that President Trump's tariffs will cost it $1.73 billion in 2025. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Pras Subramanian looks into the automakers earnings further and its anticipated tariff hit: Read more here. Germany's Merz says he did not expect better EU-US trade deal, German economy will suffer Germany's Chancellor released a statement saying he's not "satisfied" with the new EU-US trade deal and expressed concerns about how it'll affect his country's economy. Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump says Aug. 1 deadline will not be extended Two posts from Truth Social this morning: And: Two posts from Truth Social this morning: And: Harley-Davidson misses second-quarter profit estimates as tariffs weigh Motorcycle maker Harley Davidson (HOG) reported lower second-quarter profit and did not provide an annual forecast on Wednesday, as US President Trump's tariffs continued to weigh on the motorcycle maker. Reuters reports: Read more here. Motorcycle maker Harley Davidson (HOG) reported lower second-quarter profit and did not provide an annual forecast on Wednesday, as US President Trump's tariffs continued to weigh on the motorcycle maker. Reuters reports: Read more here. India eyes fall deadline for US deal amid Trump threats India has said that it will continue its negotiations with the US for a trade deal and hope one can be established by fall of 2025, despite President Trump's Aug. 1 deadline, where trading partners will face higher tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. India has said that it will continue its negotiations with the US for a trade deal and hope one can be established by fall of 2025, despite President Trump's Aug. 1 deadline, where trading partners will face higher tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Luxury car brands Aston Martin and Porsche report tariff hit President Trump's tariffs have caused two automakers to either issue warnings on Wednesday or trim outlooks. British luxury carmaker Aston Martin (AML.L, ARGGY) issued a profit warning on Wednesday, citing the impact of US import tariffs and prolonged suppressed Asian demand linked to China's economic slowdown. While Volkswagen's ( VWAGY) luxury brand Porsche cut its full-year profitability target on Wednesday after the EU's trade deal with the US and reported a $462-million hit from tariffs in the first half. Reuters reports: Read more here. President Trump's tariffs have caused two automakers to either issue warnings on Wednesday or trim outlooks. British luxury carmaker Aston Martin (AML.L, ARGGY) issued a profit warning on Wednesday, citing the impact of US import tariffs and prolonged suppressed Asian demand linked to China's economic slowdown. While Volkswagen's ( VWAGY) luxury brand Porsche cut its full-year profitability target on Wednesday after the EU's trade deal with the US and reported a $462-million hit from tariffs in the first half. Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump: India may get 20% to 25% tariff but not yet final President Trump said India could face tariffs of 20% to 25%, but added the final rate isn't set yet as both countries work on a trade deal before the August 1 deadline. 'I think so,' Trump told reporters Tuesday when asked if that was a possible tariff rate for New Delhi. 'India has been a good friend, but India has charged basically more tariffs than almost any other country,' Trump said aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington from a five-day visit to Scotland. 'You just can't do that.' The US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said "more negotiations" are needed between the US and India in order to secure a trade deal, Greer's statement was made just days before the Aug. 1 deadline for higher tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. President Trump said India could face tariffs of 20% to 25%, but added the final rate isn't set yet as both countries work on a trade deal before the August 1 deadline. 'I think so,' Trump told reporters Tuesday when asked if that was a possible tariff rate for New Delhi. 'India has been a good friend, but India has charged basically more tariffs than almost any other country,' Trump said aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington from a five-day visit to Scotland. 'You just can't do that.' The US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said "more negotiations" are needed between the US and India in order to secure a trade deal, Greer's statement was made just days before the Aug. 1 deadline for higher tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Brazil asks US to spare key food products, planes from tariffs Brazil has asked the US to spare key sectors from sky-high tariffs that will take effect on Friday. Specifically, it has asked for exemptions for food products and aircraft from Embraer, the world's third-largest planemaker. More from Reuters: Brazil is facing 50% tariffs on its exports to the US from Friday. That is among the highest rates Trump has threatened in his new round of sweeping tariffs. Those levies are coming in part because of what Trump alleges is the country's unfair treatment of its former president, who is currently on trial in the country. Read more here. Brazil has asked the US to spare key sectors from sky-high tariffs that will take effect on Friday. Specifically, it has asked for exemptions for food products and aircraft from Embraer, the world's third-largest planemaker. More from Reuters: Brazil is facing 50% tariffs on its exports to the US from Friday. That is among the highest rates Trump has threatened in his new round of sweeping tariffs. Those levies are coming in part because of what Trump alleges is the country's unfair treatment of its former president, who is currently on trial in the country. Read more here. US-China talks end without further pause, with Trump to make 'final call' US and Chinese negotiators wrapped up two days of talks Tuesday without an immediate announcement of a further tariff delay between the world's two largest economies as markets watch closely for an offramp to avert additional duties that could be in the offing in about two weeks' time. "We're going to head back to Washington, D.C., and we're going to talk to the president about whether that's something that he wants to do," said Trade Representative Jamieson Greer after the talks concluded in Stockholm, Sweden. "The president can make a final call," he added. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added Tuesday that it was "a very fulsome two days" of talks and that another 90-day pause remains on the table with the overall tone of talks being "very constructive." Trump himself was asked later in the afternoon about the chances of approval, telling reporters on Air Force One he had just spoken to Bessent and that he would decide after a briefing but that Bessent felt good about Tuesday's meeting. Read more here. US and Chinese negotiators wrapped up two days of talks Tuesday without an immediate announcement of a further tariff delay between the world's two largest economies as markets watch closely for an offramp to avert additional duties that could be in the offing in about two weeks' time. "We're going to head back to Washington, D.C., and we're going to talk to the president about whether that's something that he wants to do," said Trade Representative Jamieson Greer after the talks concluded in Stockholm, Sweden. "The president can make a final call," he added. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added Tuesday that it was "a very fulsome two days" of talks and that another 90-day pause remains on the table with the overall tone of talks being "very constructive." Trump himself was asked later in the afternoon about the chances of approval, telling reporters on Air Force One he had just spoken to Bessent and that he would decide after a briefing but that Bessent felt good about Tuesday's meeting. Read more here. US goods trade deficit hits nearly 2-year low as imports tumble The US trade deficit in goods narrowed in June to its lowest in nearly two years as imports dropped sharply. Reuters reports: Read more here. The US trade deficit in goods narrowed in June to its lowest in nearly two years as imports dropped sharply. Reuters reports: Read more here. IMF edges 2025 growth forecast slightly higher, warns tariff risks still dog outlook Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. India braces for higher US tariffs, eyes broader trade deal: Sources India is bracing itself for higher US tariffs, which will likely be between 20-25% on some exports, according to people familiar with the matter. This will be a temporary measure as it holds off on a fresh trade concession ahead of President Trump's August 1 deadline. Reuters reports: Read more here. India is bracing itself for higher US tariffs, which will likely be between 20-25% on some exports, according to people familiar with the matter. This will be a temporary measure as it holds off on a fresh trade concession ahead of President Trump's August 1 deadline. Reuters reports: Read more here. Why markets are shrugging off lack of details in Trump trade deals The simplest reason, as explained by Siebert Financial CIO Mark Malek, is that overall progress in various trade talks suggests that worst case scenarios are being avoided "so I think for the most part we're happy." More from Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul: Read more here. The simplest reason, as explained by Siebert Financial CIO Mark Malek, is that overall progress in various trade talks suggests that worst case scenarios are being avoided "so I think for the most part we're happy." More from Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul: Read more here. Tariffs bleed into profits A few tariff mentions on earnings releases this morning that have caught my attention: A few tariff mentions on earnings releases this morning that have caught my attention: P&G beats on earnings, warns of $1 billion tariff hit The consumer goods giant, Proctor and Gamble (PG) said on Tuesday that it will see a $1 billion hit to profits in its new fiscal year as a result of tariffs. Yahoo Finance's executive editor Brian Sozzi looks into the latest earnings report from makers of Tide and Pampers. Read more here. The consumer goods giant, Proctor and Gamble (PG) said on Tuesday that it will see a $1 billion hit to profits in its new fiscal year as a result of tariffs. Yahoo Finance's executive editor Brian Sozzi looks into the latest earnings report from makers of Tide and Pampers. Read more here. EU, US rush to clinch final details and lock in trade deal The EU and the US are rushing to finish a trade deal before the August 1 deadline. They want to agree on a joint statement that will allow the US to start cutting tariffs on some goods, like cars and car parts. After that, they will work on a final, legally binding deal. This will need approval from EU countries and maybe the European Parliament. The exact details are still being worked out. Some European leaders worry the deal might hurt their economies. But both sides are focused on finishing the deal soon to avoid more trade problems. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. The EU and the US are rushing to finish a trade deal before the August 1 deadline. They want to agree on a joint statement that will allow the US to start cutting tariffs on some goods, like cars and car parts. After that, they will work on a final, legally binding deal. This will need approval from EU countries and maybe the European Parliament. The exact details are still being worked out. Some European leaders worry the deal might hurt their economies. But both sides are focused on finishing the deal soon to avoid more trade problems. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump official: More talks needed to clinch India deal The US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said "more negotiations" are needed between the US and India in order to secure a trade deal, Greer's statement was made just days before the Aug. 1 deadline for higher tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. The US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said "more negotiations" are needed between the US and India in order to secure a trade deal, Greer's statement was made just days before the Aug. 1 deadline for higher tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Rating firms say US tariffs alone will not trigger EU sovereign downgrades Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. US trade deal eases tariff uncertainties, but risks remain: Japan Japan said on Tuesday that its trade deal with the US has removed uncertainties on but attention must be given to the risks these policies are putting on the Japanese economy. Reuters reports: Read more here. Japan said on Tuesday that its trade deal with the US has removed uncertainties on but attention must be given to the risks these policies are putting on the Japanese economy. Reuters reports: Read more here. Philips soars after lifting margin outlook on softer tariff hit Royal Philips NV (PHG) stock rose 9% before the bell on Tuesday after it increased its profitability outlook as the impact of the trade war was not as severe as it feared. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Royal Philips NV (PHG) stock rose 9% before the bell on Tuesday after it increased its profitability outlook as the impact of the trade war was not as severe as it feared. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Stellantis warns of $1.7B US tariff impact in 2025 Stellantis (STLA) shared updated first-half results after giving early numbers last week. The company said that President Trump's tariffs will cost it $1.73 billion in 2025. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Pras Subramanian looks into the automakers earnings further and its anticipated tariff hit: Read more here. Stellantis (STLA) shared updated first-half results after giving early numbers last week. The company said that President Trump's tariffs will cost it $1.73 billion in 2025. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Pras Subramanian looks into the automakers earnings further and its anticipated tariff hit: Read more here. Germany's Merz says he did not expect better EU-US trade deal, German economy will suffer Germany's Chancellor released a statement saying he's not "satisfied" with the new EU-US trade deal and expressed concerns about how it'll affect his country's economy. Reuters reports: Read more here. Germany's Chancellor released a statement saying he's not "satisfied" with the new EU-US trade deal and expressed concerns about how it'll affect his country's economy. Reuters reports: Read more here.
USA Today
16 minutes ago
- USA Today
President Trump announces 25% tariff on imports from India
The president's trade move comes before his Aug. 1 deadline for higher reciprocal tariffs on goods from nearly 180 countries across the world. WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump said he plans to impose a 25% tariff on imports from India and levy "a penalty" on the country for buying military equipment and energy from Russia. 'Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country,' Trump wrote in a July 30 post on Truth Social. Trump added that India has "always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!" Trump did not elaborate on the penalty. Trump's announcement comes before his Aug 1. deadline for higher reciprocal tariffs on goods from nearly 180 countries across the world to go into effect, including the president's 25% tariff on Indian imports. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
Chicago Tribune
16 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Donald Trump gave the USOPC cover on its transgender athlete policy change. It could end up in court anyway.
In its push to remove transgender athletes from Olympic sports, the Trump administration provided the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee a detailed legal brief on how such a move would not conflict with the Ted Stevens Act, the landmark 1978 federal statute governing the Olympic movement. That gave the USOPC the cover it needed to quietly change its policy, though the protection offers no guarantee the new policy won't be challenged in court. Olympic legal expert Jill Pilgrim called the Trump guidance 'a well thought-out, well-reasoned set of arguments for people who want to look at it from that perspective.' 'But I'd be pretty shocked if this doesn't get challenged if there is, somewhere along the line, a trans athlete who's in contention for an Olympic team or world championship and gets excluded,' said Pilgrim, who has experience litigating eligibility rules for the Olympics and is a former general counsel for USA Track and Field. The USOPC's update of its athlete safety policy orders its 54 national governing bodies to rewrite their participation rules to ensure they are in sync with the executive order Trump signed in February called 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports.' When the USOPC released the guidance, fewer than five had rules that would adhere to the new policy. Among the first adopters was USA Fencing, which was pulled into a congressional hearing earlier this year about transgender women in sports when a woman refused to compete against a transgender opponent at a meet in Maryland. One of the main concerns over the USOPC's change is that rewriting the rules could conflict with a clause in the Ted Stevens Act stating that an NGB cannot have eligibility criteria 'that are more restrictive than those of the appropriate international sports federation' that oversees its sport. While some American federations such as USATF and USA Swimming follow rules set by their international counterparts, many others don't. International federations have wrestled with eligibility criteria surrounding transgender sports, and not all have guidelines as strict as what Trump's order calls for. World Rowing, for example, has guidelines that call for specific medical conditions to be met for transgender athletes competing in the female category. Other federations, such as the one for skiing, are more vague. White House lawyers provided the USOPC a seven-paragraph analysis that concluded that requiring 'men's participation in women's sports cannot be squared with the rest of the' Ted Stevens Act. 'And in any event, permitting male athletes to compete against only other fellow males is not a 'restriction' on participation or eligibility, it is instead, a neutral channeling rule,' according to the analysis, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. Once the sports federations come into compliance, the question then becomes whether the new policy will be challenged, either by individual athletes or by states whose laws don't conform with what the NGBs adopt. The guidance impacts everyone from Olympic-level athletes to grassroots players whose clubs are affiliated with the NGBs. Shannon Minter, the legal director at the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, said it will not be hard to find a transgender athlete who is being harmed by the USOPC change, and that the White House guidance 'will be challenged and is highly unlikely to succeed.' 'There are transgender women. There are some international sporting organizations that have policies that permit transgender women to compete if they meet certain medical conditions,' Minter said. 'Under the Ted Stevens Act, they can't override that. So, their response is just to, by brute force, pretend there's no such thing as a transgender woman. They can't just dictate that by sheer force of will.' Traditionally, athletes on the Olympic pathway who have issues with eligibility rules must first try to resolve those through what's called a Section IX arbitration case before heading to the U.S. court system. Pilgrim spelled out one scenario in which an athlete wins an arbitration 'and then the USOPC has a problem.' 'Then, it's in the USOPC's court to deny that person the opportunity to compete, and then they'll be in court, no doubt about that,' she said. All this comes against the backdrop of a 2020 law that passed that, in the wake of sex scandals in Olympic sports, gave Congress the power to dissolve the USOPC board. That, combined with the upcoming Summer Games in Los Angeles and the president's consistent effort to place his stamp on issues surrounding sports, is widely viewed as driving the USOPC's traditionally cautious board toward making a decision that was being roundly criticized in some circles. The committee's new policy replaces one that called for reliance on 'real data and science-based evidence rather than ideology' to make decisions about transgender athletes in sports. 'As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations,' CEO Sarah Hirshland and board chair Gene Sykes wrote to Olympic stakeholders last week. 'The guidance we've received aligns with the Ted Stevens Act, reinforcing our mandated responsibility to promote athlete safety and competitive fairness.' The USOPC didn't set a timeline on NGBs coming into compliance, though it's believed most will get there by the end of the year.
