Blog
Naval strikes on drug rings may bring cases of “Smuggler’s Blues” and “Sugar Highs”
In 1999, just 703 people died from fentanyl overdoses. For the next ten years, those deaths remained relatively low. hitting 2,628 in 2012. Yet from 2013 to 2023, fentanyl killed 376,197 Americans – a number roughly equivalent to the entire population of Cleveland Ohio. This doesn’t factor in the over ...
Steve Smith
October 16, 2025
Blog
Read about San José's transformation under Mayor Mahan
San José Mayor Shows Market-Based Ideas Can Improve Urban Quality of Life
Major cities in California have decayed in recent years as elected officials and city bureaucrats have doubled down on a mix of government mandates, excessive regulations, high fees and lax enforcement of public safety laws that have created an unattractive quality of life driving away businesses, jobs, tax revenue and ...
Nikhil Agarwal
October 15, 2025
Agriculture
Read the latest on how tariffs hurt employers and workers
Soybean squabble points to larger ag problems to come
During the first Trump Administration Americans were asked to adopt the motto, “short term pain for long term gain.” During the current Trump Administration, the tariff war was kicked off with “Liberation Day.” With harvest season upon ag country, soybeans are taking center stage in the current trade war. China ...
Pam Lewison
October 14, 2025
Blog
The Gordon Chang Report–“Keep Out, China!”: Trump Resurrects the Monroe Doctrine
READ THE PDF “Keep Out, China!”: Trump Resurrects the Monroe Doctrine “Murder.” That’s how Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in comments to the BBC late last month, termed recent U.S. airstrikes on small drug boats in the Caribbean Sea. He also called the attacks an “act of tyranny.” Petro said America’s ...
Gordon Chang
October 13, 2025
Blog
Congestion pricing an open question, but equity concerns are bogus
Congestion pricing an open question, but equity concerns are bogus by Rafael Perez | October 10, 2025 New York City in January became the first city in America to implement congestion charges in an effort to curb traffic, reduce pollution and raise funds to improve transit systems. Los Angeles is ...
Rafael Perez
October 10, 2025
Blog
San Diego Banned Digital-Only Coupons. Then The Deals Went Away.
Last week, another “first in the nation” law took effect in the City of San Diego. There’s usually a reason no one decides to jump in front of California to grab “first in the nation” honors for themselves – it is a bad idea. Such is the case with San ...
Tim Anaya
October 9, 2025
Blog
Learn How Drug Price Controls Hurt Patients
Big Pharma Is Not Gouging Americans nor Driving Up Healthcare Costs
Whether it is Sanders vilifying pharmaceutical companies or Trump’s emphasis on imposing price controls, they both allege that drug spending is a primary driver of the nation’s rising healthcare costs. Even a cursory look at the data demonstrates their focus is misplaced. Let’s start with the national health expenditure data ...
Wayne Winegarden
October 8, 2025
Blog
Government Shutdown Threatens Billions in IPO Funding
The federal government has been shut down since October 1 because of a funding disagreement between Democrats and Republicans in Washington. Though a deal could theoretically be struck at any moment, there does not appear to be any end in sight. Only services deemed essential are permitted through the shutdown, which means ...
Matthew Fleming
October 7, 2025
Blog
Learn about the impact of the latest refinery fire
How Much Will Gas Prices Rise After So Cal Refinery Fire?
Producing 269,000 barrels a day of useful fossil fuels, the El Segundo facility is second in the state only to Marathon’s Los Angeles refinery, which puts out 365,000 barrels a day, good for 22.5% of state’s capacity. The Chevron site provides 20% of motor vehicle fuel in California and 40% of the ...
Kerry Jackson
October 7, 2025
Blog
Spending Watch
California’s FY2025-26 Budget Failed to Address the State’s Long-term Financial Risks
California’s FY2025-26 Budget Failed to Address the State’s Long-term Financial Risks Wayne Winegarden October 2025 Politicians too often assume that California’s fiscal health is synonymous with the state of its annual budget. When revenue growth is strong, the state is allegedly in a sound fiscal position. It is only when ...
Wayne Winegarden
October 6, 2025
Naval strikes on drug rings may bring cases of “Smuggler’s Blues” and “Sugar Highs”
In 1999, just 703 people died from fentanyl overdoses. For the next ten years, those deaths remained relatively low. hitting 2,628 in 2012. Yet from 2013 to 2023, fentanyl killed 376,197 Americans – a number roughly equivalent to the entire population of Cleveland Ohio. This doesn’t factor in the over ...
Read about San José's transformation under Mayor Mahan
San José Mayor Shows Market-Based Ideas Can Improve Urban Quality of Life
Major cities in California have decayed in recent years as elected officials and city bureaucrats have doubled down on a mix of government mandates, excessive regulations, high fees and lax enforcement of public safety laws that have created an unattractive quality of life driving away businesses, jobs, tax revenue and ...
Read the latest on how tariffs hurt employers and workers
Soybean squabble points to larger ag problems to come
During the first Trump Administration Americans were asked to adopt the motto, “short term pain for long term gain.” During the current Trump Administration, the tariff war was kicked off with “Liberation Day.” With harvest season upon ag country, soybeans are taking center stage in the current trade war. China ...
The Gordon Chang Report–“Keep Out, China!”: Trump Resurrects the Monroe Doctrine
READ THE PDF “Keep Out, China!”: Trump Resurrects the Monroe Doctrine “Murder.” That’s how Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in comments to the BBC late last month, termed recent U.S. airstrikes on small drug boats in the Caribbean Sea. He also called the attacks an “act of tyranny.” Petro said America’s ...
Congestion pricing an open question, but equity concerns are bogus
Congestion pricing an open question, but equity concerns are bogus by Rafael Perez | October 10, 2025 New York City in January became the first city in America to implement congestion charges in an effort to curb traffic, reduce pollution and raise funds to improve transit systems. Los Angeles is ...
San Diego Banned Digital-Only Coupons. Then The Deals Went Away.
Last week, another “first in the nation” law took effect in the City of San Diego. There’s usually a reason no one decides to jump in front of California to grab “first in the nation” honors for themselves – it is a bad idea. Such is the case with San ...
Learn How Drug Price Controls Hurt Patients
Big Pharma Is Not Gouging Americans nor Driving Up Healthcare Costs
Whether it is Sanders vilifying pharmaceutical companies or Trump’s emphasis on imposing price controls, they both allege that drug spending is a primary driver of the nation’s rising healthcare costs. Even a cursory look at the data demonstrates their focus is misplaced. Let’s start with the national health expenditure data ...
Government Shutdown Threatens Billions in IPO Funding
The federal government has been shut down since October 1 because of a funding disagreement between Democrats and Republicans in Washington. Though a deal could theoretically be struck at any moment, there does not appear to be any end in sight. Only services deemed essential are permitted through the shutdown, which means ...
Learn about the impact of the latest refinery fire
How Much Will Gas Prices Rise After So Cal Refinery Fire?
Producing 269,000 barrels a day of useful fossil fuels, the El Segundo facility is second in the state only to Marathon’s Los Angeles refinery, which puts out 365,000 barrels a day, good for 22.5% of state’s capacity. The Chevron site provides 20% of motor vehicle fuel in California and 40% of the ...
Spending Watch
California’s FY2025-26 Budget Failed to Address the State’s Long-term Financial Risks
California’s FY2025-26 Budget Failed to Address the State’s Long-term Financial Risks Wayne Winegarden October 2025 Politicians too often assume that California’s fiscal health is synonymous with the state of its annual budget. When revenue growth is strong, the state is allegedly in a sound fiscal position. It is only when ...