As a new NFL season captures the attention of millions of fans nationwide, marquee players like Patrick Mahomes, Bijan Robinson, Puka Nacua, and Jalen Carter are gearing up for the rigorous grind of a grueling football schedule. While the average fan may struggle to find common ground with these elite athletes regarding athleticism, fame, or…
By Erica York, Senior Economist, Center for Federal Tax Policy Main Facts At the Republican National Convention in Dallas, President Trump made a sweeping political and economic pledge: a direct payment of $5,000 to every adult citizen in the United States. However, this headline-grabbing proposal comes with a significant political caveat—it is conditional upon Republicans…
BRUSSELS — A quiet ideological battle is being waged across the capitals of the European Union, pitting the centralizing ambitions of the European Commission against the constitutional prerogatives of individual Member States. At the heart of this friction is the European Union’s revised Tobacco Excise Directive (TED), a sweeping legislative proposal ostensibly designed to streamline…
For millions of homeowners, the most devastating part of a natural disaster doesn’t arrive with the roaring winds, rushing floodwaters, or crackling flames. It arrives weeks later, dropped into a mailbox in the form of an explanation of benefits or a brief adjuster’s report. As extreme weather events grow increasingly frequent and ferocious, a harsh…
WASHINGTON — Across the United States, a historic capital investment boom is quietly rewriting the nation’s economic and fiscal ledger. Driven by a massive, nationwide buildout in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, cloud computing, and advanced manufacturing, businesses are spending on physical assets at a rate that is drastically outpacing federal forecasts. Yet, this surge in…
WASHINGTON — In a unanimous decision that marks a definitive pivot in U.S. monetary policy, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday, lifting the federal funds target range to 3.75%–4%. The move signals a renewed aggressive stance against persistent inflation and represents the first rate…
Main Facts The United States federal government faces an unprecedented fiscal trajectory, driven largely by decades of escalating healthcare spending and extensive tax preferences. According to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projections, federal budget deficits as a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are set to rise from 5.8 percent in 2026 to 6.7 percent in…
Main Facts The landscape of higher education financing is undergoing a profound structural shift. For students and families entering the private student loan market, the process can feel overwhelming, characterized by a dizzying array of interest rates, repayment terms, and qualification criteria. To help mitigate this confusion, many colleges and universities are pointing students toward…
One year into paying off the auto loan for my 2020 Subaru Ascent, curiosity got the better of me. With a solid credit score and a steady payment history, I wondered if I could trim my monthly expenses by refinancing the remaining balance. What started as a casual interest-rate check quickly evolved into an intensive…
Main Facts: A New Milestone for American Express in Europe American Express has officially expanded its globally renowned Centurion Lounge network into continental Europe for the first time, selecting Amsterdam Airport Schiphol as the site for its historic 33rd location. Opening to the public on September 17, 2026, the brand-new 6,000-square-foot lounge introduces a fresh,…
