The Supreme Court’s recent decision striking down President Trump’s sweeping emergency tariff program wasn’t some vague procedural technicality. It was a direct constitutional confrontation over who has the authority to impose tariffs and how far a president can stretch an emergency statute to achieve economic policy goals. In Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, the Court…
Congress Finally Takes Housing Seriously
In a Congress that often seems more invested in partisan theater than practical governance, the House’s bipartisan passage of a housing package stands out as something unusual: an acknowledgment of reality. Housing affordability is no longer a regional issue confined to coastal cities or high-growth metro areas. It’s a national pressure point affecting families in…
3% Inflation Is the Quiet Thief That Won’t Leave the House
The latest numbers put inflation at about 3%. That may sound mild compared to the 9% wildfire we endured in 2022, but let’s not fool ourselves. It still means higher prices, thinner savings, and slower progress for families already stretched to the limit. Politicians in Washington can pat themselves on the back all they want,…
The Federal Reserve Soap Opera: Supreme Court Edition
Well, folks, I called it, and I mean exactly called it. Back in my September 18 installment of The Federal Reserve Soap Opera, I said, “If I had to make an educated guess, the Supreme Court may be inclined to give Lisa Cook a short-term reprieve.” And lo and behold, that’s precisely what they did.…
Trump, Lisa Cook, and the Federal Reserve Soap Opera
Episode I: As the Fed Turns Last month, I wrote a piece about President Trump, the Federal Reserve, and their messy custody battle over “independence.” Well, the plot has thickened, and we’ve officially entered soap opera territory. Welcome to this week’s episode of “As the Fed Turns.” Here’s the recap: President Trump tried to fire…
When Numbers Mislead and Inflation Teases: A Look at the Economy, Tariffs, and Rate Cuts
Well, the economic tea leaves have been tossed on the table again, and they’re not exactly painting a crystal-clear picture. We just got a trifecta of reports: turns out job growth wasn’t nearly as strong as we were told, wholesale prices actually dipped a little (that’s the “good news,” though don’t break out the confetti…
A Look at the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts
In a rare bipartisan moment, Congress has sent a historic pair of cryptocurrency bills to President Trump’s desk — the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act — marking the most sweeping federal crypto legislation in American history. President Trump, continuing his pro-innovation agenda, signed the GENIUS Act into law on July 18, 2025, while the…
A Review of the OBBBA’s Endowment Tax Provision
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduces a significant overhaul of how large private university endowments are taxed in the United States. Currently, qualifying colleges and universities with sizeable endowments pay a flat 1.4% excise tax on their investment income. The OBBBA would replace this one-size-fits-all rate with a new tiered structure designed to increase…
Raising the Roof or Digging a Hole? A Look at the OBBBA Debt Limit Hike
Tucked inside the sprawling One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is a hefty clause that raises the federal debt ceiling by a whopping $4 trillion. In plain English, this means the U.S. Treasury gets permission to borrow up to that higher limit so it can keep paying the bills Congress has already racked up, things…
A Look at the $1,000 Baby Bonus in the OBBBA
Let’s take a closer look at a provision in the OBBBA that promises a $1,000 federal contribution for every child born between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2028. Yep, you heard that right: every baby born during that five-year stretch gets what’s being dubbed a “MAGA account,” kickstarted with a cool grand courtesy of…