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Slowdown likely without policy shifts

The Federal Reserve lowered the target for the federal funds rate by another quarter point last week while signaling fewer rate cuts in 2025 than previously anticipated. This approach aligns with the Fed’s dual mandate to promote price stability and support the labor market. Headline inflation has accelerated in recent months, and a strong economy has left room for further price growth. Reflecting this, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury has risen nearly 100 basis points since the first rate cut in September. However, with inflation already below the median FOMC member ...

Shapiro’s ‘fast-track’ great for his allies, but bad for state

Is Josh Shapiro the future of the Democratic Party? He certainly wants to be, but he just failed an early test. This is the reality of the supposed permitting reform that our governor unveiled in November. Shapiro created a “fast track” program to get bureaucratic roadblocks out of the way of much-needed infrastructure projects in the state. The political calculus is clear: Shapiro wants to be seen as a moderate—someone who will rush to the middle and deliver growth and jobs. That’s a new direction for the Democratic Party after Kamala Harris lost the presidential race on a ...

Looking for substitutes for God

About seven minutes into Taylor Swift’s movie “The Eras Tour” something remarkable hap-pens. Swift says to the cheering crowd, “LA, you’re making me feel excellent right now.” Then, with a smile on her lips, she says, “Let me try something.” She points her finger at the left side of the SoFi Stadium, and all the fans on that side go totally crazy. When she points her finger at the right side, all the fans on that side scream. Still smiling, Swift responds, “ I mean, this is getting dangerous. This is about to start going to my head real fast. I mean, you just made me ...

Making the American economy great again

The American people voted for President Trump’s plan to grow the economy, cut waste, and restore fiscal sanity. During recent funding negotiations, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) exposed bloated spending, highlighting how many federal agencies—whose budgets doubled under the Biden administration—have ballooned costs without delivering meaningful results. Americans want a leaner, more accountable government where every taxpayer dollar is accounted for and every agency operates with efficiency. Eliminating waste and focusing resources on priorities that drive ...

Is Syria the free world’s next mess?

Is Syria the next mess for the United States and the free world, including Israel? Syria, part of the ancient world, which figures prominently in Jewish history, came under the sway of the Muslim Ottoman Empire based in Turkey. The Ottoman Empire ruled the land from 1516 to the end of World War I, 1918. Syria was Muslim long before Sultan Selim I defeated the Mamluks in the battle of Marj Dabiq. As recently as 1831, Syria was invaded by the Egyptians. French forces prevailed in World War I and the Occupied Enemy Territory Administration was set up during World War I. A number of ...

Reflecting on miracles this season

In the summer of 1776, New York buzzed with tension as Commander-in-Chief George Washington readied his troops for an imminent British attack. The storm broke on Aug. 27 with British General William Howe’s forces clashing against Washington’s Continental Army. The battlefield echoed with the cries of soldiers, and the ground was stained with the blood of fallen heroes. Despite their courage, the Continental Army faced a crushing defeat, leaving them crippled and dispirited. Amidst the despair, a sliver of hope emerged. On the night of Aug. 29, under the cloak of darkness and a ...