In recent weeks, the political landscape has taken a concerning turn, revealing how fragile the independence of the Federal Reserve truly is. When sitting presidents, regardless of political alignment, begin to publicly threaten appointed officials over unfounded or politically motivated allegations, it jeopardizes the fundamental principle of an unbiased, apolitical monetary policy. The case of
Politics
San Antonio’s downtown saga illustrates a city at a crossroads, caught between economic development ambitions and cautious governance. The decision by most of the city council to proceed with the Spurs’ proposed $1.3 billion arena project exposes deep divisions and underlying strategic debates. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones’s call for an independent impact study underscores a
U.S. infrastructure faces an urgent crisis, yet the federal government continues to rely heavily on outdated models of public investment, often leaving vital projects underfunded or delayed. The recent formation of a specialized advisory board signals a necessary shift in approach, aiming to leverage private capital—particularly U.S.-based sources like pension funds—to overhaul a crumbling system.
In the tumultuous world of U.S. economic policy, President Donald Trump’s latest maneuvers reveal a disturbing pattern: an obsession with centralized control over the Federal Reserve’s direction. Instead of respecting the independence that has historically shielded monetary policy from political whims, Trump openly seeks to install appointees who favor his economic agenda. The recent departure
The recent congressional approval of a handful of fiscal 2026 appropriations bills reveals both a glimmer of bipartisanship and an underlying fragility that threatens to destabilize America’s fiscal landscape. While passing these bills before the August recess signals a rare moment of legislative cooperation, the broader picture exposes a fundamental inability to reach comprehensive funding
Recent legislative developments in Texas signal a sharp shift in how urban areas can manage their financial needs. The passage of Senate Bill 9 by the Local Government Committee marks an aggressive effort to curb the growth of property tax revenues in larger cities and counties. Under this bill, cities with populations over 75,000—an increase
The recent passage of a sweeping bipartisan housing bill by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs signals a rare moment of consensus in an otherwise polarized political landscape. While proponents herald it as a bold step toward tackling America’s chronic housing shortage and soaring affordability issues, one must scrutinize the underlying assumptions
The latest research shedding light on the decline of coal usage in the United States reveals a harsh reality: communities historically anchored by coal are now facing unprecedented financial turmoil. For years, policymakers and industry insiders have debated the environmental toll of coal, but little attention has been paid to its profound economic repercussions. As
The catastrophic floods along the Guadalupe River during the July 4 holiday weekend serve as a brutal reminder of Texas’s persistent negligence regarding disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience. With 135 lives lost and billions in property damage, this calamity underscores a profound failure by policymakers to prioritize sustainable and proactive solutions. Instead of viewing these
In the wake of a deceptively optimistic start to 2025, a stark undercurrent threatens the sustainability of our urban centers—fiscal instability. While city leaders are vocally prioritizing economic revival and resilience, the sobering truth is that their financial arsenals are severely depleted. Federal funding, which once served as a lifeline through programs like the American