Messy, costly tax-and-spending legislation working its way through Congress. GOP majority wants to cut spending on key programs and renew tax cuts, Democrats want to increase some taxes and raise spending. Result: a bill no one seems to like with huge increase in national debt.

Happy Independence Day! Even with all of our problems and polarization, we still have a lot to be proud of. Let’s renew our commitment to living up to our core values….freedom, fairness, individual rights, prosperity, opportunity, the American Dream.

Passage of the massive tax and spending bill, which enacts President Trump’s main agenda, is triggering a battle royal for public opinion. A big problem for Trump and majority Republicans in Congress is that the measure violates Trump’s campaign pledge not to cut Medicaid.

Why was recent flooding in Texas so deadly? Was the disaster response fatally flawed? How should it be improved? All these are legitimate questions and finding answers could save lives in the future. The governor should take these questions more seriously in his public comments.

President Trump’s latest escalation of his trade wars is another example of how he is trying to amass as much unilateral power as he can. This is his governing philosophy of “Only I Can Fix It” in action.

President Trump hits a rough patch. Only 27% of U.S. adults say his policies have “done more to help” them since he took office for a second term, according to the latest AP-NORC poll. About 49% say Trump’s policies have “done more to hurt” them.

Congressional redistricting in Texas could have a big impact on control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 election. Shows how the major parties have become so relentless in trying to hold or take power. Pols in other states could replicate.

President Trump often tries to change the subject when he gets into political trouble. Now he wants to shift attention from the Epstein case and foreign policy setbacks— and threatens more deportations in NYC and wants NFL team in DC to re-name from Commanders back to Redskins.

Starvation in Gaza shows how some international problems are very resistant to being solved by the U.S. president. The Israel-Hamas war is a case in point. A solution requires more creative ideas than President Trump is providing. Promising to arrange a cease-fire not enough.

Still unclear how much it will cost to renovate the 747 jet donated by Qatar to become the new Air Force One. NYT reports U.S. officials won’t divulge. But it will surely take hundreds of millions to bring the jet to U.S. specifications. For context, see my book “Air Force One.”

President Trump got good news from latest federal reports that the economy is relatively strong. But impact of his tariff strategy and trade wars remains unclear— and could increase inflation and hurt the economy. Big gamble. Beware of snap judgments. National debt also risky.

A weak jobs report and President Trump’s proposed escalation of international trade wars are increasing public and political concern about Trump’s overall economic policies. New fears about rising inflation. Stock market is rattled. Political environment becoming more unstable.

Bad news for President Trump. New poll by Morning Consult for Century Foundation finds that six out of 10 Americans now blame the Trump administration for driving up their cost of living. Nearly 8 of 10 fear Trump’s tariffs will increase prices of everyday goods. Growing anxiety.

Majority Republicans in Texas Legislature proceed with unusual effort to redraw district boundaries for U.S. House and give Republicans five more safe seats nationally. Democrats in California, Illinois and NY explore ways to redraw their own district lines. No holds barred?

Another sign of polarization is the fierce struggle over gerrymandering congressional districts. Texas Republicans push to gain seats, and other states may follow including Democrats in California, New York, Illinois, and GOP in Missouri, Florida, Indiana. Endless hardball.

Trumpian whirlwind. Waves of presidential initiatives to overturn existing policy, gain power and shatter status quo. Sending feds to fight crime in DC, ordering a new census to strengthen GOP in Congress, rounding up more undocumented workers, new attacks on media, trade wars.

Remember when Reagan met Gorbachev in Reykjavík and the summit meeting broke up in failure? But it created conditions for progress on arms control and eventual improved relations because both sides realized they were both serious about peace. Can Trump and Putin get that far?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom captures the imagination of many Democrats by fighting fire with fire. He uses mockery and ferocity to attack President Trump and his agenda, the same tactics Trump uses to fire up his base. Newsom positions himself as Democrats’ leader of the future.

Negative politics gaining strength, as seen in quasi-civil war over congressional redistricting led by Texas and California; 2026 midterm campaigns will be case studies in attack politics. We’ve been here before. See my latest book, “The Architects of Toxic Politics in America.”

President Trump apparently plans more federal intervention to control crime and round up undocumented workers in cities governed by Democrats. Chicago likely next target. Feds now patrol D.C. But are these valid efforts to restore law and order, or power grabs? Exit strategy?