Contributor: Is your favorite influencer’s opinion bought and sold?
Your addictive doomscrolling on X, TikTok or Instagram may also be the latest nexus for millions of dollars in secret political corruption.Over the last month,…
Contributor: Economic nostalgia woos voters, but it leads to terrible policies
History may not perfectly repeat itself, but it often rhymes. Two protectionist episodes — the infamous Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 and the Trump-era tariffs…
Contributor: Trump’s clash with Harvard puts higher ed on notice
One of the most important insights of public policy is the understanding that most laws are predicated upon a (stated or unstated) quid pro quo.Take,…
Contributor: Small nuclear reactors are no fix for California’s energy needs
It might seem like everyone from venture capitalists to the news media to the U.S. secretary of Energy has been hyping small modular reactors as…
Contributor: Americans are sick of federal waste. Republicans should take the hint
The federal budget remains a disaster, and for all the splashy talk of cost-cutting and tariff-driven revenue, Americans know it. Especially galling is that the…
Contributor: Tax dollars for religious schools? Conservative justices could be the roadblock
In 1805, New York made a deal. State officials granted taxpayer funds and a corporate charter to a private organization known as the Free School…
Contributor: Why California leads the way toward parity for women in elected office
In these tough times, as we grapple with saving America itself, it is important to note progress and victories.This year, for the first time, women…
Contributor: Easy entry into the U.S. from foreign shores? Don’t count on it now
For some, it’s as routine as paying at the checkout counter. For others, it’s as nerve-racking as a root canal. Which experience you have depends…
Contributor: Democrats need to speak to cultural concerns as well as economics
It’s time for Democrats to end the circular firing squad between moderates and progressives. Each side blames the other for Trump’s win in 2024, with…
Contributor: If Trump were one of the rogues from Homer’s ‘Iliad,’ which would he be?
Among the books I have returned to again and again throughout my life, seeking solace, wisdom, joy or self-understanding, Homer’s “Iliad” ranks very high. As…
Contributor: Trump is cutting the funding that ensures funds are well spent
Donald Trump’s first term as president was characterized by an unprecedented volume of false and misleading statements — exceeding 30,000, according to multiple news organizations.…
Contributor: Trump’s latest trade war with China is sorely needed
On Wednesday, President Trump abruptly announced a 90-day pause on most of his planned country-specific “reciprocal” tariffs — with the notable exception of the People’s…
Contributor: The Trump administration is ignoring far-right terrorism. That only makes it more dangerous
Intelligence chiefs testified recently on Capitol Hill about the U.S. intelligence community’s newly published annual threat assessment. In a stark departure from previous reports, this…
Contributor: Republicans want to fool you into thinking a massive tax cut has zero costs
Congressional Republicans are trying to pass a budget this week with a massive tax cut that they say isn’t a tax cut — sleight-of-hand that…
Contributor: L.A.’s ‘mansion tax’ needs a remodel. Here’s how to fix it
In 2022, Los Angeles voters approved Measure ULA, a transfer tax on the sale of high-value properties inside the city limits. Nicknamed the mansion tax…
Contributor: The Statue of Liberty was a welcome sign. Now the U.S. vibe is ‘stay out’
A little over a year ago, while trying to secure votes to pass a $1.2-trillion spending package, House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly told the fiscal…
Contributor: We do need some tariffs, applied strategically and predictably
Whenever the subject of trade comes up, many right-leaning free traders and left-leaning neoliberals alike trot out the same talking point: “The economists all agree…
Contributor: What Selena’s murder says about our fascination with death
Selena may be long gone from this earth, but in 2025, she is far from absent. Her face and signature appear on countless products, ranging…
Trump's ever-widening sadism will undermine his movement
Americans are famously tolerant of other people’s suffering, but they have an extremely low tolerance for their own. And more and more Americans are feeling…
Contributor: Can Hegseth ever regain the trust of the troops?
On March 15, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared sensitive details about an imminent attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen — including timing and targets —…