Novi, MI Correspondent — Yes, and the industry has been saying so since 2025 for reasons that had nothing to do with who was president. You cannot make a capital decision against a tariff that a court can vacate. That was the argument, it was correct, and February proved it in the most expensive possible … Continue reading With the emergency tariffs struck down in February and replaced under a narrower authority that expires by its own terms, does trade policy now have to go through Congress?
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How can the administrative state be made more responsive to elected officials without introducing new forms of politicization into technical decisions?
Prescott Valley, AZ Correspondent — Responsiveness requires clearer statutory direction, stronger oversight of policy priorities, and consequences for refusing to implement lawful policy. The risk is that technical judgments become subordinated to preference. The workable separation is elected control of ends with integrity in means. What makes this question unusually live is that it may … Continue reading How can the administrative state be made more responsive to elected officials without introducing new forms of politicization into technical decisions?
Should mass-removal operations be paced to agricultural and hospitality labor demand, or does that pacing recreate the old wink under a new name?
Myrtle Beach, SC Correspondent — This coast sells rooms and plates. I know what a July without dishwashers looks like, and I know what a wink looks like, and they aren't the same kindness. We are not speculating about this. Three weeks ago there was a public statement about farm and hotel workers being hurt, … Continue reading Should mass-removal operations be paced to agricultural and hospitality labor demand, or does that pacing recreate the old wink under a new name?
Have mid-year tariff actions produced more reshoring and bargaining leverage than they have raised input costs for builders, farms, and retailers?
Gastonia, NC Correspondent — A tariff is a price and a letter. At mid-year we have more of the letter than we have of a finished plant. That isn't a reason to call the letter a failure. It's a reason not to call it a factory. Input costs are real. Builders are paying them in … Continue reading Have mid-year tariff actions produced more reshoring and bargaining leverage than they have raised input costs for builders, farms, and retailers?
Trust in media, technology platforms, universities, and intelligence institutions continues to decline. Can the next administration meaningfully improve institutional credibility, or has the problem moved beyond the reach of any single president?
Wheeling, West Virginia Correspondent — Institutional credibility is a structural problem. A president can stop adding to the distrust and can reduce official pressure on platforms and agencies to police speech. Trump has been the consistent antagonist of the institutions that lost the most trust. That antagonism is often undisciplined and the underlying diagnosis is … Continue reading Trust in media, technology platforms, universities, and intelligence institutions continues to decline. Can the next administration meaningfully improve institutional credibility, or has the problem moved beyond the reach of any single president?
Abortion policy after Dobbs has returned largely to the states, yet it remains a national campaign issue. How significant should it be in voters’ decisions, and what are the realistic federal limits of either candidate’s position?
Prescott Valley, Arizona Correspondent — Dobbs returned the core policy choice to the states. Trump has taken a more restrained federal position than many in his party preferred, treating the question as largely settled at the state level. The alternative seeks to re-nationalize it through federal legislation. Voters who wanted the decision returned to the … Continue reading Abortion policy after Dobbs has returned largely to the states, yet it remains a national campaign issue. How significant should it be in voters’ decisions, and what are the realistic federal limits of either candidate’s position?
The role of the justice system and allegations of selective prosecution have become major campaign themes. Does this election represent a referendum on equal application of the law, and what practical steps could either candidate take to restore confidence?
Prescott Valley, Arizona Correspondent — When large numbers of voters believe the justice system is being used as a political weapon, the election becomes partly a referendum on equal application of the law. Trump has been the principal target of the most visible and contested prosecutions this cycle, and he is also the candidate campaigning … Continue reading The role of the justice system and allegations of selective prosecution have become major campaign themes. Does this election represent a referendum on equal application of the law, and what practical steps could either candidate take to restore confidence?
Immigration and border security have ranked among the top issues throughout the campaign. What are the clearest differences between the candidates on enforcement, asylum rules, and legal pathways, and which approach is more likely to produce a stable outcome?
Clermont, Florida Correspondent — The clearest differences are on the scale and speed of enforcement, asylum screening at the border, and whether legal pathways come after control or instead of it. Trump treats the border as a sovereignty and enforcement problem that has to be solved first. Harris and the current administration treated it more … Continue reading Immigration and border security have ranked among the top issues throughout the campaign. What are the clearest differences between the candidates on enforcement, asylum rules, and legal pathways, and which approach is more likely to produce a stable outcome?
Should Congress reassert clearer limits on the use of emergency and national-security authorities by the executive branch?
Wheeling, West Virginia Correspondent — These authorities expanded through repeated use and broad interpretation, and Congress has the constitutional position to redraw them. Tighter definitions, shorter time limits, faster review. Leaving them vague invites continued expansion and reduces the legislature to a commentator. I'd say the obvious thing about why it doesn't happen. A member … Continue reading Should Congress reassert clearer limits on the use of emergency and national-security authorities by the executive branch?
After the first hundred days and the January 6 prosecutions, is “domestic violent extremism” now a coherent federal priority, or a label that will be applied to whichever street the current majority dislikes?
Gastonia, NC Correspondent — January 6 was ugly, illegal, and a gift to every camera in the country. Whether it was domestic terrorism depends on whether the noun means anything or just means a crowd we dislike on a day we can use. A coherent priority would have found the word in 2020. A police … Continue reading After the first hundred days and the January 6 prosecutions, is “domestic violent extremism” now a coherent federal priority, or a label that will be applied to whichever street the current majority dislikes?
