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.
Before the Midterms: What Americans Think About Trade and Tariffs
English Summary
The primary finding is that affordability concerns are dominating the political landscape, making trade policy a central electoral issue. Americans widely perceive that tariffs contribute to higher costs of living, though they remain deeply divided on whether the financial burden falls on U.S. consumers or foreign nations. While the public generally views traditional allies as fair trading partners, they are hesitant to support unilateral tariff actions, even against perceived rivals like China, due to fears of consumer price hikes. Strategically, policymakers must frame trade actions around mitigating consumer cost and addressing bipartisan anxiety over affordability to succeed in the upcoming election cycle.
中文摘要
主要發現指出，可負擔性顧慮正在主導政治格局，使得貿易政策成為核心的選舉議題。美國民眾普遍認為關稅會導致生活成本提高，但他們對於這項經濟負擔究竟落在美國消費者身上還是外國國家，仍存在深刻的分歧。儘管公眾普遍視傳統盟友為公平的貿易夥伴，但由於擔心消費者物價上漲，他們對支持單邊的關稅行動（即使是針對被視為競爭對手的中國）也持猶豫態度。從策略上講，政策制定者必須將貿易行動的論述框架圍繞緩解消費者成本和應對兩黨對於可負擔性的焦慮，才能在即將到來的選舉週期中取得成功。
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.