The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Progress and stagnation: US poverty, deep poverty, and the safety net, 1967–2023
English Summary
The analysis finds that while general poverty rates declined significantly between 1967 and 2023, this progress was largely due to the expansion of the safety net, not economic growth. However, progress in reducing deep poverty and the deep poverty gap was minimal, indicating that the benefits of social programs are not evenly distributed. This stagnation reflects the weakening of cash assistance programs for the very poor who are not elderly or disabled. Policymakers must note that the reported gains are temporary, as impending cuts to major safety net programs (like those proposed by OBBBA) are expected to reverse much of the historical progress and increase poverty rates.
中文摘要
分析指出，儘管一般貧困率在 1967 年至 2023 年間顯著下降，但此項進展主要歸功於社會安全網的擴張，而非經濟增長。然而，減輕極度貧困和極度貧困差距的進展甚微，這表明社會計畫的效益分佈並不均勻。這種停滯反映出針對非老年或非殘障群體極度貧困人口的現金援助計畫正在減弱。政策制定者必須留意，所報告的增長是暫時性的，因為預計對主要安全網計畫（例如 OBBBA 提議的計畫）的削減，將導致大部分歷史進展逆轉，並推高貧困率。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.
-
3.
The publication argues that current efforts to improve the well-being of men and boys of color are too fragmented, failing to account for the structural linkages between systems like education, employment, and criminal justice. It proposes a new, holistic framework that traces how structural conditions flow through multiple domains to measurable outcomes, such as longevity. Key reasoning emphasizes the need to treat 'place' as a fundamental actor and to identify successful communities where these populations are already thriving. Policy implications require shifting away from individual-focused interventions toward developing structural, place-based agendas that address systemic inequities.
-
4.
The Blue Wave signals significant voter frustration with cost of living and inflation, giving Congress a mandate to prioritize affordability and cost-reduction measures. Economically, the rapid build-out of AI data centers is creating localized stress, driving up skilled labor wages and straining resources, while also facing constraints from power grids and potential local regulatory backlash. Policymakers must manage this 'sequencing issue'—addressing rising costs before full productivity gains from AI can materialize—and anticipate shifts in global data center infrastructure as the market matures.
-
5.
The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.