American Optimist By John Stossel
There's so much negative news these days. I was glad to see that a new podcast, "American Optimist," features good things that are coming.
Political Commentary
Most Recent Releases
October 20, 2021
October 19, 2021
Taxing America First by Stephen Moore
Back in early 2016, when Larry Kudlow and I suggested that then-presidential candidate Donald Trump propose a 20% business tax rate for U.S. companies (down from the highest in the world rate of 35%), he enthusiastically endorsed this "America First" policy -- not because he loved corporate America but because he realized that as long as small and large American companies were paying the highest tax rates, jobs and factories would continue to move offshore.
October 19, 2021
Nationalism to Confront Globalism in Glasgow By Patrick J. Buchanan
"Extraordinary, isn't it? I've been hearing all about COP," said the queen to the duchess of Cornwall. "Still don't know who is coming. ... We only know about people who are not coming. ... It's really irritating when they talk but they don't do."
October 15, 2021
Bill de Blasio Is On the Way Out, But His Mindset Lingers by Michael Barone
As his two terms as New York's mayor approach their end, and long after his presidential campaign ended with a whimper, Bill de Blasio has chimed in with one last act of destruction: a proposal to end the public schools' entry-by-exam gifted and talented program for first graders.
October 15, 2021
Are the Good Times Over for Joe? By Patrick J. Buchanan
"When sorrows come," said King Claudius, "they come not single spies but in battalions." As the king found out. So it seems with President Joe Biden, who must be asking himself the question Merle Haggard asked:
October 14, 2021
Five Questions About Virginia’s Tight Gubernatorial Race By Kyle Kondik and J. Miles Coleman
Breaking down 2021’s marquee race with less than 3 weeks to go.
KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE
— In the closely-watched Virginia gubernatorial race, Glenn Youngkin (R) is keeping it close with Terry McAuliffe (D), in part because he now enjoys some of the advantages that Democrats enjoyed in Virginia during Donald Trump’s presidency.
— Though the McAuliffe campaign has worked relentlessly to tie Youngkin to Trump, an unpopular figure in the commonwealth who has endorsed Youngkin several times, President Biden’s weakened approval ratings weigh on Democrats. Congressional Democrats’ lack of action on big-item legislation, specifically on infrastructure and social spending, also seems to be dampening enthusiasm among their rank-and-file voters.
— The down-ballot races will probably be linked closely with the top of the ticket, with the state House of Delegates up for grabs in addition to the other statewide offices.
— While early voting is down a good deal compared to last year’s presidential race, as expected, it is hard to draw firm conclusions from these totals because the lion’s share of Virginians have traditionally voted on Election Day, aside from last year during the pandemic.
October 13, 2021
Let Life Resume by John Stossel
America remains bound by often extreme pandemic restrictions.
October 12, 2021
The War Is on With China By Stephen Moore
With each passing week, it looks like World War III -- between America and China -- is coming sooner than we think. It's not going to be fought with bullets or aircraft carriers, although the Chinese are building up their military in an aggressive and threatening way.
October 12, 2021
Sink the New World Order Tax! by Patrick J. Buchanan
Last Friday, in a triumph for transnationalism, 136 nations, including the U.S., agreed to mandate a global corporate income tax for all nations that will not be allowed to fall below 15%.
October 8, 2021
Are China's Threats to Taiwan a Bluff? By Pat Buchanan
Monday, four dozen Chinese military aircraft flew into Taiwan's air defense zone, climaxing a weekend of provocations that saw nearly 150 sorties of China-based fighters and bombers.
October 8, 2021
Both Parties' Ignorance of Electoral Reality Has Led To Our Present Discontents by Michael Barone
Here's a jarring thought: Most political analysts, and most political strategists for our two political parties, have been operating off flawed data and flawed assumptions. The result has been one political surprise after another, and the election of the two most unsatisfactory presidents, in the minds of many voters, since Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan in the 1850s.
October 7, 2021
Project Home Fire/Center for Politics Research Reveals Outsized Role Immigration Plays in Fueling our National Divide By Larry Schack and Mick McWilliams
KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE
— Joe Biden and Donald Trump voters feel strongly but in opposite directions on the topic of discrimination, with Biden voters expressing concern about discrimination against minorities, while Trump voters worry that discrimination against whites will increase significantly in the next few years. (see Table 1 below)
— Whereas Biden voters are animated by racial and social justice concerns, Trump voters fear they will suffer personally, socially, culturally, and economically from the effects of immigration. (see Tables 2 and 3 below)
— These conflicted attitudes yield major policy divisions. When asked which policy areas concern them most, Biden voters identify with combatting systemic racism and addressing racial diversity. Whereas Biden voters prioritize social justice concerns, Trump voters do not. In fact, across the almost 50 national issues and areas of personal concern surveyed (some of which are noted below), Trump voters are far and away primarily focused on one particular issue: immigration. (see Table 4 below)
— Cluster analysis reveals that while many voters are essentially closed off to direct appeals to compromise at this time in part because of their strong views on immigration, there are voters who are concerned about immigration but are also potentially more persuadable on this topic. They are open to messaging and policies that balance their interests with those of immigrants, helping them feel more safe and secure.
October 6, 2021
BEEReaucrats By John Stossel
Jim Caruso, CEO of Flying Dog Brewery, calls his business a "First Amendment brewery." That's because he keeps going to court to defend beer labels.
October 5, 2021
Fossil Fuels Are Back -- Everywhere Except in the USA By Stephen Moore
While the greens in America, including their champion zealot, President Joe Biden, howl their primal screams over climate change, the rest of the world is turning to coal. The dark stuff. The satanic fuel. But it's back big-time across the globe.
October 5, 2021
Biden Becomes a Bernie Sanders Democrat? by Patrick J. Buchanan
"We've got the president of the United States on our side," said Sen. Bernie Sanders Sunday on ABC's "This Week."
October 5, 2021
Support for Secession Linked to Conspiracy Belief By Larry Schack and Mick McWilliams
Drilling deeper into a noteworthy finding from last week’s UVA Center for Politics/Project Home Fire report.
KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE
— Belief in conspiracy theories is most consistently correlated with Biden and Trump voters who favor secession.
— The majority of citizens who voted for Joe Biden or Donald Trump in the last election, when combined, believe in at least one of the conspiracy theories (43% of Biden voters and 90% of Trump voters).
— But while the percentage of Trump voters who ascribe to these conspiracies significantly outpaces that of Biden voters, conspiracy-believing Biden voters are more likely to say blue states should secede from the union than are conspiracy-believing Trump voters likely to say red states should secede.
— Additionally, several other authoritarian beliefs are significantly more prevalent among voters who support secession.
October 1, 2021
Who Is Killing 10,000 Black Americans Every Year? By Patrick J. Buchanan
"Unfortunately, Jan. 6 was not an isolated event," warned FBI Director Christopher Wray last winter:
October 1, 2021
Biden Policies Need Better Arguments Than 'Orange Man Bad' by Micahel Barone
"First you win the argument, then you win the vote." That advice from Margaret Thatcher has been ignored by President Joe Biden and Democratic Party leaders to their detriment.
September 30, 2021
OR Finishes Redistricting, with CO, ME, and NE Close Behind; Many Other States Release Drafts by J. Miles Coleman
Last week, in the middle of what turned out to be a tumultuous special legislative session in Oregon, the Crystal Ball looked at the congressional map that Democrats were pushing for. After a COVID scare that prompted leadership to halt negotiations for several days, the Oregon legislature convened over the weekend. Facing the prospect of a walkout by Republican legislators, Democrats proposed a new map that was designed to be more palatable to the GOP. It worked. On Monday, enough Republicans showed up to allow Democrats to pass their plan.
September 30, 2021
New Initiative Explores Deep, Persistent Divides Between Biden and Trump Voters By UVA Center for Politics
The University of Virginia Center for Politics has partnered with Project Home Fire, a new initiative dedicated to finding common ground in American politics, on an innovative new data analytics and polling project to explore the social, political, and psychological divides between those who voted for Donald Trump and those who voted for Joe Biden in 2020.
