Know what
they are thinking.

• James Pethokoukis at American Enterprise Institute writes that the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, will act as an external consulting group to the Trump White House, aiming to provide recommendations to streamline government operations by July 4, 2026.

​

• The commentary argues that Washington policymakers should examine actionable proposals for improving healthcare, Social Security, and tax reform. These policies emphasize market incentives, fiscal responsibility, and economic growth, as discussed in the AEI report "A Balanced Plan for Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth."

• William H. Frey at Brookings writes that despite claims of a multiracial transformation, Trump's support remains predominantly among white voters, with only modest gains among Latino or Hispanic voters and minimal shifts among Black voters.
• The analysis asserts that the long-standing racial voting divide persists, with Democrats retaining significant support from Black and Latino or Hispanic voters, questioning any significant transformation of the GOP voter base.

• William A. Galston and Elaine Kamarck at Brookings discuss the importance of presidential debates in addressing voter concerns, highlighting Kamala Harris's effort to define herself and correct misconceptions about her political stance and capabilities.
• The commentary asserts that Donald Trump's debate performance was inconsistent, often veering off-topic and failing to broaden his appeal beyond his base, indicating a potential challenge for his campaign in attracting new supporters.

• Adam N. Michel at Cato Institute argues that tax policy's prominence in the presidential campaign is due to the impending expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the candidates' proposals for new special-interest tax breaks that complicate and increase the tax code's complexity.
• The report asserts that while there is bipartisan support for extending most of the expiring tax cuts, proposed targeted benefits for tips, families, homeowners, domestic production, and seniors will further complicate the tax system and pose significant fiscal challenges.

• Urban Institute experts write that the Biden administration's rent stabilization proposal aims to cap annual rent increases at 5% for units owned by large landlords, conditioned on maintaining existing tax breaks, aiming to stabilize housing and protect tenants from eviction or displacement.
• The experts argue that while the proposal could make more units affordable for low-income residents, it may also reduce the overall supply of rental units as landlords might convert properties or avoid entering the market, potentially driving up rents for uncontrolled units.