This week, our writers tackle big questions across the board. What limits American power? Who picks our voters? Is housing a sacred cow or a legitimate policy issue? And just how far can presidents push their spending power?

To start, Ivan Eland revisits the enduring relevance of realism in global affairs, as the Ukraine conflict exposes the constraints of American triumphalism.

Alex and Kristin Tokarev write on the ongoing Texas and California gerrymandering scandal, discussing how it undermines democratic accountability by letting politicians choose their voters.

Scott Beyer critiques the belief that housing is an untouchable investment, revealing how this mindset fuels rent-seeking.

Sam Jenson contrasts California’s stalled clean energy ambitions with Texas’s rapid progress, highlighting the role of the regulatory environment.

Finally, Craig Eyermann analyzes President Trump’s $4.9 billion pocket rescission, a bold maneuver that is poised to cause a constitutional showdown over executive versus congressional control of federal spending.

Happy reading.

Jonathan Hofer
Managing Editor