Week in Review: Power, Trust, and Consequences
Four stories, one theme: when leaders ignore consequences, the fallout shapes America’s future at home and abroad.
Week in Review: Power, Trust, and Consequences
It’s been a busy week of writing, and an even busier week in American politics. From vaccine skepticism to shutdown showdowns to Gaza’s fragile peace, the through-line is clear: when leaders overreach or fail to lead, the consequences ripple far beyond the moment.
Here’s what I’ve been writing about this week:
The Vaccine Backlash
RealClearHealth
Vaccine skepticism is on the rise, but the blame doesn’t rest solely with “misinformation.” The mandates of the COVID era left deep scars of distrust. I examine the polling data and argue why experts must own their share of responsibility.
Democrats’ Shutdown Trap
Townhall
Democrats’ radical wing pushed the party into a government shutdown they couldn’t win. Without power in the House, Senate, or White House, this was always a losing hand. So why did they play it? The answer says more about the Left’s extremism than about strategy.
Municipal Monopolies Under Threat
RealClearPolitics
Why do Democrats panic when Trump sends federal help into cities plagued by crime? Because city control is the foundation of their national power. Break that monopoly, and their electoral math collapses.
A Time for War and a Time for Peace
The American Spectator
Gaza’s ceasefire didn’t happen by accident. It happened because weakness was replaced by strength. I unpack why peace was achieved under Trump, why it eluded Biden, and what it means for the Middle East.
Why it all matters
Each of these stories connects back to the same lesson: policies have consequences, and ignoring those consequences doesn’t make them disappear. Whether it’s public trust in vaccines, national trust in leadership, or international trust between allies, choices made in the heat of the moment echo for years.
I’ll keep tracking those echoes. Thanks for reading, and as always, I welcome your thoughts.
— JT