President Trump’s proposal to suspend the federal gas tax comes at a politically obvious moment. Gas prices have surged amid the Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian pressure, and ordinary Americans are getting clobbered at the pump. Trump floated the idea after prices rose past $4.50 per gallon, while the federal gas…
Budget Airlines and Big Government: The Spirit Bailout Debate
The Trump administration’s consideration of a bailout for Spirit Airlines is one of those rare political moments where everyone gets a little uncomfortable at the same time, but for very different reasons. On paper, it looks like a straightforward economic rescue: a struggling airline, mounting financial pressure, and a government weighing whether to step in…
Gas Prices, Political Promises, and the $3 Mirage
There are few things in American life more emotionally charged than the number glowing on a gas station sign. It’s basically our national mood ring, except instead of telling us how we feel, it causes how we feel. So, when Energy Secretary Chris Wright and President Trump start publicly disagreeing about when gas will dip…
Tariffs, Pills, and Politics: Will 100% Drug Tariffs Fix Anything or Break Everything?
If there’s one issue that reliably unites Americans across the political spectrum, it’s this: prescription drugs cost too much. Whether you’re paying out of pocket, dealing with insurance headaches, or watching premiums creep higher every year, the system feels expensive, opaque, and—at times—downright unfair. So, when President Trump steps in with a bold proposal like…
When Oil Prices Rise, Do “We” Actually Make Money?
During a recent discussion about rising energy costs, President Trump offered a characteristically blunt assessment of the situation. The United States, he argued, is now the world’s largest oil producer, so when oil prices go up, “we make a lot of money.” On the surface, that sounds logical enough. If you sell something and the…
SCOTUS Draws a Hard Line on Tariffs
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…
The EU–Mercosur Trade Deal: Strategic Logic Meets Political Reality
Free trade agreements tend to be debated like theology: one side speaks of “prosperity,” the other of “betrayal,” and both sides cherry-pick numbers. The EU–Mercosur deal deserves a more sober appraisal, because it’s not just a trade pact. It’s an attempt to rewire supply chains, industrial strategy, and geopolitical alignment in a decade when tariffs…
America Doesn’t Need More Drama; It Needs Adults in the Room
If there’s a unifying theme in Washington lately, it’s this: everyone wants accountability, just not for themselves. Whether it’s a shaky ethics probe, a cell-phone-records carve-out, a D.C. National Guard face-off, or the Justice Department playing investigator of the investigators, the common thread is that too many leaders seem allergic to the hard work of…
Trump’s China Deal Brings Hope to America’s Heartland
Well, it looks like China’s back at the table and they’re hungry for soybeans again. According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, China has agreed to buy 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually for the next three years. That’s music to the ears of American farmers who’ve been sweating through trade wars, droughts, and…
Trump’s 10% Tariff Threat Over Ontario’s Reagan Ad: Smart Leverage or Overreaction?
Sometimes it feels like President Trump is one headline away from dropping a tariff. This weekend’s flare-up with Canada proves the point. While flying aboard Air Force One to Malaysia, Trump posted on Truth Social that he’s planning to raise tariffs on Canadian goods by another 10%. The reason? A television ad from the province…