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Clear all filters- The Economist16 min
Who will be California’s next governor? | The Economist
Charlotte Howard, James Bennet, Aryn Braun, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton
A contentious California gubernatorial runoff looms as a referendum on the state's affordability crisis, featuring progressive challenger Tom Steyer's aggressive advertising campaign against incumbent Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton's tax-cut proposal backed by Donald Trump. Critics argue that decades of co-opted ballot measures and structural fiscal deficits under Governor Gavin Newsom have driven out-migration and created recurring budget holes, fueling a narrative of state dysfunction that Republicans hope to exploit for a rare statewide victory. The election outcome will ultimately determine whether voters prioritize the status quo or support significant policy shifts intended to reverse California's economic decline and reverse its demographic power loss in Congress.
- The Economist10 min
What Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” means for America
Trump, Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon, John Prideaux
Driven by the filibuster's constraints on traditional debate, Congress is advancing a massive reconciliation "mega bill" that consolidates diverse policy areas including tax relief for the wealthy, Medicaid cuts, and renewable energy phase-downs. This legislation is projected to increase the national deficit by four trillion dollars while delivering regressive economic outcomes that disproportionately harm working-class voters and lower-income constituents. Despite these controversial provisions and the erosion of democratic accountability, political analysts predict the bill will pass with minimal resistance due to Trump's enforcement of party loyalty through primary threats and the prioritization of cultural over economic voter concerns.