Politics

In recent days, the spectacle surrounding Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook’s alleged mortgage misstatements has revealed a disturbing trend: the encroachment of political motives into the supposedly independent realm of monetary policy. The vocal demands by former President Donald Trump for her resignation, fueled by accusations of dishonesty, are emblematic of an unsettling shift that

San Antonio’s decision to press ahead with building a new downtown arena for the Spurs signals a willingness to gamble big on economic development, but this move warrants a sober, critical examination. The city’s choice to ignore an independent economic impact study raises red flags about transparency, fiscal responsibility, and community priorities. An arena of

In recent discourse surrounding American infrastructure, there’s a recurring theme: the belief that private sector investment can solve our looming transportation crisis. The newly formed advisory board, under Secretary Sean Duffy’s leadership, champions this idea with vigor, advocating for greater utilization of public-private partnerships (P3s). While tapping into private capital sounds promising, it is fundamentally

In recent months, the United States has witnessed a troubling shift from steady, rule-based economic stewardship to a chaotic dance driven by personal ambition and political theater. The presidency of Donald Trump, particularly his interactions with key financial institutions, exemplifies this dangerous trend. Instead of focusing on intelligent economic policymaking, Trump has engaged in relentless

The recent Senate passage of select fiscal 2026 appropriations bills creates the illusion that Congress is making significant strides toward fiscal responsibility. While the bipartisan approval of appropriations for sectors like Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and the Legislative Branch appears to be a positive step, the underlying threat of a government shutdown in October exposes a

Recent legislative developments in Texas signal a decisive shift toward constricting local governments’ fiscal independence. Senate Bill 9, approved overwhelmingly by the Senate Local Government Committee, proposes a significant reduction in the permissible growth of operating property tax revenues for large cities and counties—from a 3.5% to a 2.5% voter-approval tax rate multiplier. While this

The recent bipartisan breakthrough in the Senate marks a pivotal moment in American housing policy. With the passage of the ROAD Act by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, a new chapter opens in efforts to tackle the perennial housing crisis. The legislation’s core aims—lifting caps on housing credits and bonds, boosting

The declining reliance on coal for electricity generation in the United States is not just an environmental shift; it’s an economic upheaval that exposes the vulnerabilities of municipal finance. While proponents of cleaner energy tout the environmental benefits, the financial consequences for coal-dependent communities often remain overlooked. As natural gas, driven by the fracking revolution,

Texas faces an urgent and brutal reality: the devastating floods that struck the Hill Country over the July 4 weekend, claiming over 130 lives and causing billions in damages, are not just natural disasters but symptomatic of deeper systemic issues. This catastrophe starkly highlights the dangerous complacency and inefficiency entrenched in local governance and infrastructure

As we venture deeper into 2025, a stark reality looms over America’s urban landscape: cities are teetering on the edge of a fiscal abyss. Thanks to the abrupt termination of federal stimulus initiatives like the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), municipal leaders face an increasingly challenging path ahead. The