Politics

In recent weeks, the United States has witnessed an alarming trend: political figures leveraging personal and partisan disputes to undermine the independence of the Federal Reserve. The spectacle of President Donald Trump explicitly threatening to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over allegations of mortgage misrepresentation exemplifies a dangerous pattern. While critics may argue that

San Antonio’s decision to push forward with the ambitious $1.3 billion downtown arena project exposes a troubling tendency among city leaders to chase big-ticket developments under the guise of economic revitalization, often without thorough scrutiny. While proponents argue that this facility will serve as a catalyst for growth, the reality begs for a more skeptical

In recent years, the narrative surrounding infrastructure development has pivoted around the idea that private capital, particularly from pension funds and other institutional investors, can solve the United States’ crumbling transportation networks. Politicians and bureaucrats tout this approach as a silver bullet—an innovative solution that mobilizes dormant resources without increasing taxes. However, beneath this appealing

In recent months, the Donald Trump administration has exhibited a willingness to contest the independence of the Federal Reserve, a move that threatens to destabilize the very foundation of American monetary policy. Traditionally, the Fed operates as an independent entity, insulated from political pressures, to ensure that interest rate decisions are based on economic data

The recent Senate approval of three appropriations bills for 2026 presents a superficially promising step towards legislative productivity. Yet, beneath this façade lies a fragile consensus backed by political necessity rather than genuine cooperation. While Senate leaders heralded this as a milestone—highlighting the passage of bills ahead of the August recess—the reality reveals a legislative

In an era where government budgets face constant pressures from rising costs and expanding responsibilities, the recent push in Texas to tighten operating property tax limits for larger municipalities reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of fiscal responsibility. The legislation, notably Senate Bill 9, aims to reduce the voter-approval tax rate multiplier from 3.5% to 2.5% for

The recent bipartisan breakthrough in the Senate, embodied by the passage of the ROAD Act, seemingly offers hope for a divided nation desperate for consensus. However, beneath this veneer of cooperation lies a carefully crafted piece of legislation that glosses over fundamental flaws and risks exacerbating existing inequalities. While the bill’s proponents tout it as

In recent years, the decline of coal as a dominant energy source has become more than an environmental issue; it is revealing itself as a profound threat to the fiscal health of municipal governments across coal-dependent regions. While the transition to cleaner energy is often framed in ideological terms, the economic repercussions are concrete, immediate,

The recent catastrophic floods in Texas serve as a brutal reminder that leadership lacking foresight will ultimately pay the price. The flooding along the Guadalupe River over Independence Day, which claimed over 130 lives and inflicted billions in damages, underscores a glaring failure to adequately prepare for natural disasters of increasing frequency and severity. While

Municipalities across the United States find themselves on the brink of a financial precipice, exposed by a sobering new survey from the National League of Cities. With key federal programs like the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) winding down, local governments are confronting the harsh reality of dwindling resources.