R Street Institute

Tariffs are taxes. When governments levy them on imported goods, the costs are subsequently baked into the retail costs of consumer products. So the tax is passed onto Americans, unless they choose to only buy tariff-free goods, which may be even more expensive. It’s generally a lose-lose situation for consumers who face inflated costs. THE NEWNAN TIMES-HERALD, INC Marc Hyden https://lnkd.in/eAsvsc-z

Plenty of pundits are talking about the merits and demerits of tariffs. But from an energy policy analysis perspective, falling oil prices in response to a new policy indicate that future economic news will be negative. Ultimately, investors are only correct some of the time. While policymakers should always take oil price changes with a grain of salt, they would be wise not to ignore warning bells that their policies may carry more economic cost than anticipated. https://lnkd.in/epprAXRZ Philip Rossetti #energy #energypolicy #publicpolicy

"These bills would create a grant program to support local law enforcement agencies in improving their capacity to investigate and solve violent and sexual crimes. The funding could be used to hire more investigators, provide specialized training, invest in forensic technology, and upgrade outdated data systems. It’s a smart, targeted approach toward improving public safety and restoring community confidence. Even cities that have made notable gains—like Houston, where the homicide clearance rate improved in 2024, and El Paso, which continues to rank among the safest large U.S. cities—can’t offset the overall trend: Too many violent crimes in Texas go unsolved." https://lnkd.in/e4d2-_96 Jillian Snider #texas #criminaljustice #publicpolicy

“As a matter of governance, it’s bad. There’s just no way to slice and dice it. There is no evidence of a grid emergency... It sets a really bad precedent for future administrations. It creates a lot of opportunity for political side-agendas to undermine evidence-based industry practices” — Devin Hartman Anna Kramer NOTUS https://lnkd.in/eNz7UE2x

"Zoning in particular is a government prior restraint on development, which is why effective urbanists are committed to reducing zoning restrictions so that developers can build whatever consumers want. But it’s wrong — and generally inaccurate — to pit city residents against suburban ones by making it seem as if the former are subsidizing the latter. Simply put, urbanists would have far more success implementing the constructive aspects of their agenda if they described the situation accurately: Loosening building restrictions will lead to more choice and better outcomes for everyone." https://lnkd.in/esuhwE79 Steven Greenhut The American Spectator #zoning #urbanism #freemarket

"President Trump’s tariffs could inadvertently deliver a 'massive gift' to China by allowing it to catch up in the AI race and court new partners globally, Adam Thierer, a senior fellow at the center-right think tank R Street Institute, tells Fortune. 'It’s going to be very hard for the U.S. to win the so-called ‘AI Cold War’ if America’s trade policies are simultaneously tanking global markets, discouraging technological investments and potentially undermining traditional alliances with key allies,' says Thierer, who testified before House lawmakers earlier this week about the threat of Chinese AI models like DeepSeek to U.S. national security. Those policies, which are disrupting the global supply chain and creating major volatility in global markets, may have the unintended effect of driving U.S. allies into the arms of China for their technology needs. That gives China an unparalleled opportunity to gain more technological supremacy globally. 'Suddenly, in the wake of this trade fiasco, we see EU officials saying, ‘let’s get on the phone with China and talk,’' says Thierer. 'Huawei has this telecommunications hardware system they want to sell, and there’s also these AI models that are free of charge.' But Chinese tech comes embedded with specific values, says Thierer. For example, 'if you have Chinese-made hardware, you might be getting Chinese embedded surveillance and censorship along with it,' he said. 'Or you at least have the potential for China to have greater leverage over those nations later, when they control these important technological systems.'" https://lnkd.in/eG6rVCvJ Sharon Goldman Fortune

"Grasping the importance of shielding criminal records from the public after individuals remain crime-free for a set period requires a full understanding of the lasting consequences and barriers faced by those with records, even years after completing their sentence. Major challenges faced by the one in three American adults with criminal records relate directly to difficulty keeping or simply attaining basic necessities like employment, housing, and education. More than 40,000 state and federal regulatory and legal restrictions limit opportunities for people with criminal records, creating negative outcomes not only for the individuals impacted, but for those around them as well. For example, 94 percent of employers use background checks when hiring, and an arrest or conviction record reduces the chances of a callback or job offer by nearly 50 percent. Unemployment and underemployment harm individuals and the communities they live in. Automating record sealing to reduce recidivism allows individuals to move forward as productive members of society, with increased public safety as an added benefit." https://lnkd.in/eU6nv-kM Sarah Anderson Jillian Snider #criminaljustice #recordsealing #publicpolicy

"Requiring 'fair' trade means letting the government determine the calculus. That results in interest groups (such as unions) determining it based not on any normal definition of fairness but based on what advances their interests. It’s an assault on our freedom. Tariffs and 'fair' trade centralize decisions in politicians and bureaucrats—something we saw on spectacular display. By handing one person tariff power, we give that person the means to boost or destroy the economy based on whim." https://lnkd.in/e6pcnsHi Steven Greenhut Orange County Register

"Ultimately, most harm reduction is about preserving life and health, so it is no surprise that there are many examples in healthcare. With genetic testing, people can determine if they have an increased risk of breast or ovarian cancer. In consultation with medical providers, some people with this genetic risk factor elect to have preventative hysterectomies or mastectomies to decrease their cancer risk. Pacemakers are another example of healthcare harm reduction, as is controlling blood pressure and other health metrics through diet and exercise. Autoinjectors (often referred to as EpiPens) reduce risk for people with severe allergies. Most everyday harm reduction does not carry the same stigma as harm reduction for smoking, substance use, or sexual health, even though it operates in the same way. We acknowledge that many of our behaviors carry risks and use numerous tools to make daily life less risky. From smartwatches that call emergency services when they sense a fall to handrails on staircases, harm reduction is everywhere." https://lnkd.in/eeX5vny9 Chelsea Boyd, M.S. #harmreduction #risk #government

"Journalism and information are currently undergoing rapid changes, but the data seems to show that if journalism wants to be relevant again, it must better adapt to the influencer model of information and blend more entertainment into its coverage. Outlets in which all journalists are independent, multi-partisan, and funded through individual donations could represent a more successful model than traditional newsrooms. Newsrooms should come up with more ways to entertain and garner viewers, create revenue in places other than subscriptions, and focus on following digital and cultural trends." https://lnkd.in/eGBuDrce Spence Purnell #news #journalism #tiktok