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.
Trump’s New Tariffs: What to Know
English Summary
The Trump administration is systematically rebuilding a comprehensive global tariff wall using various legal mechanisms, despite previous Supreme Court setbacks. While proponents argue these duties are necessary to combat unfair trade practices and reindustrialize the U.S., evidence suggests that manufacturing's share of GDP has declined since earlier tariff cycles. This policy creates significant economic uncertainty, as the immediate costs (such as increased construction material prices) appear high, while the promised benefits for job growth and domestic production remain speculative and long-term. Policymakers must weigh the clear trade-offs between short-term affordability concerns and the uncertain, future gains from broad global tariffs.
中文摘要
川普政府正透過各種法律機制,系統性地重建一個全面的全球關稅壁壘,儘管先前曾遭遇最高法院的挫敗。雖然支持者主張這些關稅是應對不公平貿易行為和重振美國工業所必需的,但證據顯示,自先前的關稅週期以來,製造業佔國內生產總值(GDP)的比重已有所下降。 這項政策造成了顯著的經濟不確定性。一方面,眼前的成本(例如建築材料價格上漲)看似高昂;另一方面,其承諾帶來的就業增長和國內產能提升的好處,卻仍屬於推測性和長期性的。政策制定者必須權衡短期可負擔性顧慮與廣泛全球關稅所帶來的不確定未來收益之間的明確取捨。
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.
China's economic strategy is characterized by a persistent 'economics of denial,' prioritizing massive state-directed investment in advanced technology over addressing weak domestic consumption. This approach is rooted in a flawed belief that controlling physical capital will automatically generate productivity and wage growth, ignoring the structural imbalance where domestic demand consistently falls short of supply. This overinvestment and underconsumption model is unsustainable. Consequently, Beijing's policies will continue to generate global deflationary pressures and escalating trade friction, necessitating a fundamental pivot toward consumption-led growth for long-term stability.
-
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.