Focus on Midterm Elections: Watch Out for Democrats’ Affordability Rhetoric
Back in 1992, President George H.W. Bush was expected to win re-election, especially considering his administration’s notable successes in foreign policy and the economic recovery following a brief recession. Yet, as pointed out by Victor Davis Hanson, the “pseudo-recession” of that year overshadowed the campaign, leading to Bill Clinton’s victory over Bush. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, there’s a call for President Trump to avoid similar pitfalls. In less than a year, his foreign policy accomplishments have been almost as significant as the Bush administration’s achievements over four years. Moreover, the Trump economy boasts record energy production, low gas prices, and inflation below 3%. However, like Clinton did, Democrats are prioritizing “affordability.” The real question for Trump’s campaign is whether they will learn from past experiences and maintain a focus on economic issues.
Middle East: Claims of Famine in Gaza Debunked
This week, those advocating for actions against rising anti-Semitism found some validation from a leading famine monitoring group, which changed its stance regarding conditions in Gaza. As noted by Commentary’s Seth Mandel, it seems that “Gaza is actually in much better condition” than previously claimed by researchers from the IPC. Leaders fueling a wave of anti-Jewish sentiment but struggling to respond could begin by excluding IPC claims from future policy discussions. The positive takeaway is that “there was no famine in Gaza.” However, it’s troubling that the IPC was aware of this fact and yet manipulated the data to spread false narratives about Israel, contributing to harmful stereotypes like the “child killer” narrative, which fuels global violence against Jews.
Cultural Critique: Better Marriage Options for Women
Writing for the Wall Street Journal, William A. Galston expresses frustration over America’s challenges when “well-being depends on the family.” The marriage rate for those without a college degree is declining sharply. With more women attaining college degrees than men, it seems that women are expected to marry less often. However, the rates remain stable among women who tend to marry high-income men without degrees. This dynamic is reducing the availability of financially stable partners for non-college-educated women, leading to what could be described as a “working-class marriage crisis.” One suggested solution is to increase the number of college-educated men by enhancing high school programs that teach essential 21st-century skills.
Science Desk: Protecting the Integrity of Laboratories
Tyler Cowen raises important questions about how to respond to recent scientific revelations, particularly the discrediting of some studies by prominent neurologist Oliver Sacks. He stresses that credible scientific literature emerges from collaborative efforts rather than individual research. This collective work tends to be more reliable, having undergone extensive scrutiny. Cowen encourages treating research papers and their media portrayals as possibilities rather than absolute truths. By holding off on forming firm judgments until there’s broader scientific consensus, one can maintain relative objectivity regarding new studies.
Changing Liberty: Decline of Religion Among Democratic Voters
There’s an ongoing observation that “the values, beliefs, morals, and attitudes” of a growing secular Democratic elite contrast sharply with those of many Americans who still identify as religious, mostly Christians. According to liberal commentator John Halpin, there’s been a noteworthy drop in Christian support among Democrats, alongside a rise in individuals identifying as religiously unaffiliated, including atheists and agnostics. Yet, this secular shift within the Democratic Party seems disconnected from the broader U.S. landscape, where two-thirds of voters continue to identify as Christian. Additionally, the strong demands from secular nonprofit organizations and democratic socialist groups appear to be met with resistance. This “trade-off,” Halpin suggests, isn’t just detrimental for electoral outcomes, but also for the nation’s diverse social fabric.
