If the economy is so good, why do small business leaders feel so bad?
The latest Small Business Optimism Index from the National Federation of Independent Business could hardly be more depressing. It finds that the men and women who run our 33 million small businesses and hire more than half of American workers are in a somber mood. The survey finds that small-business confidence has reached its lowest point in 12 years.
Why was America in the Revolutionary War era, with 3 million people, able to generate leaders of the quality of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, while today's America, with 333 million people, generates the likes of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump?
—Though former President Donald Trump easily won most GOP primaries this year, some areas stood out to us.
—By comparing how Trump did in each county to how he did overall in each state, we can get a better idea of how his coalition is shaping up.
—Geographically, Trump beat his statewide primary share in a majority of counties in most states.
—Meanwhile, and not surprisingly, Trump tended to struggle in areas that are Democratic, or blue-trending, in general elections, although there were some exceptions.
In 1992, Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton famously answered a voter question about how the national debt affected him personally. Clinton's response was often paraphrased as, "I feel your pain."
Donald Trump is the furthest thing from a threat to democracy where abortion is concerned -- and for activists on both sides, that's alarming.
President Joe Biden is not popular these days. In the Rasmussen Reports daily presidential tracking poll from April 11, only 22% of likely US voters strongly approve of Biden’s job performance. In comparison, 46% strongly disapprove, a 24-point negative swing.
When are we going to trust our fellow Americans again? When are we going to allow qualified individuals with responsibility to make decisions without consulting detailed rulebooks and formal procedures?
— The six presidential elections held during the 25-year history of the Center for Politics were often close, although most states voted predictably.
— As part of a time capsule we are putting together to be opened at the center’s 50th anniversary in 2049, we are asking our future students to consider what has changed and what has stayed the same.
— Had we done the same exercise when the center was founded 25 years ago, we would have seen an Electoral College alignment from 1976-1996 that looked a lot different than what we’ve become familiar with this century.
The Labor Department just imposed 300 pages of new regulations to reclassify many individual contractors as payroll employees.
Imagine making a documentary about one of the 20th century's leading opponents of the Ku Klux Klan -- without ever talking about the evil of the KKK itself.
President Joe Biden keeps lecturing corporate America to "pay your fair share" of taxes. It turns out he's right that some companies really are getting away scot-free from paying taxes.
What were they thinking? Did President Joe Biden and the folks who put together his immigration policy imagine the voting public would celebrate policies that resulted in a record-high number of migration encounters -- more than three-quarters of a million -- in the usually low-immigration months of October, November and December 2023?
— Horse race presidential polling has shown some significant weaknesses for President Biden among at least a couple of key subgroups: young people and Black voters.
— However, some polls have also shown Biden doing unusually well among senior citizens.
— The oldest voters have generally voted to the right of the national vote in recent cycles, and that is probably what we should expect in 2024 as well, despite these polls.
Leaders of both parties agree: We must reduce globalization.
The Biden administration has announced in recent weeks new stringent emissions requirements for virtually the entire American transportation system.
Mel Brooks said it's good to be the king -- but is it good to be speaker of the House of Representatives?
How are America's leaders measuring up against the standards set by the Constitution and the examples of the Founding Fathers? It's a question I've been asking as I seek refuge from contemporary politics in reading and occasionally writing, in my 2023 book "Mental Maps of the Founders," about the early years of the republic.
Rep. Mike Gallagher’s (R, WI-8) surprising announcement late last week that he would resign on April 19 combined with an earlier and also surprising resignation announcement by now ex-Rep. Ken Buck (R, CO-4) is going to have the effect of further reducing the Republicans’ already-slim House majority.
What if you come home and find strangers living in your house?
