Executive Summary  Introduction  Going into summer 2023, three women were on the precipice of shifting the nation. Taylor Swift, the music sensation, saw an unprecedented resurgence during the Covid-19 pandemic after being brutally condemned in the years prior. Swifties are now the most powerful demographic in the music industry. Beyoncé, a woman whose place in … Continue reading →

Executive Summary  Introduction  On June 5-6, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed charges against Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange; Changpeng Zhao, Binance’s CEO; and Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in America. The Binance charges, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, allege that Binance entities operated an illegal trading platform, … Continue reading →

Executive Summary: Introduction: Inside Chicago’s Old Post Office and flanked by signs with the word “Bidenomics,” President Joe Biden outlined his economic vision on June 28th—a vision that rewrites the economic orthodoxy of the last four decades: Reaganomics or “trickle-down economics,” as Biden calls it. President Biden has repeatedly criticized “trickle-down economics” for leaving the … Continue reading →

Executive Summary:  Introduction:   Over the last month, a significant shift has occurred in the electric vehicle space. Three major manufacturers – Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Rivian – announced they would transition their charging standard to the North American Charging Standard (NACS). NACS is Tesla’s proprietary charging system and is implemented in all of … Continue reading →

Executive Summary Introduction Despite a steep increase in economic instability during COVID-19, national participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) barely responded to the crisis. WIC provides nutritious foods, nutritious education, and breastfeeding support to low-income pregnant and post-partum individuals, infants, and children up to age 5. Studies have … Continue reading →

Executive Summary Introduction Last week, Canadian wildfires greyed American skies and worsened air quality in cities stretching from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic. Environmental agencies warned Americans to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, many outdoor events were canceled, and even the dreaded mask made a reappearance.   While blues skies returned, the wildfires brought climate change to … Continue reading →

I. Introduction + Background  The Federal Reserve (Fed) has a dual mandate: keep unemployment down and prices steady. At this moment, in a post-covid environment, with messed up supply chains, inflation has proven to be the focus. The Fed has been tackling inflation as prices have been the highest since the 1970s and don’t seem … Continue reading →

Introduction  During a time of declining bipartisanship in Washington, one law continues to enjoy the backing of members in both parties: The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, better known as the Jones Act. The law requires that shipping between U.S. ports is conducted by ships that are U.S.-built and at least 75 percent U.S.-owned. Proponents … Continue reading →

Early last week, President Biden introduced new export controls that further heightened tensions with China, as the rule is directed to undermine Beijing while uplifting the American technology industry. While the controls have many consequences for China (and perhaps some unintended ones for the US, as well), it is mostly a tell-tale sign of where … Continue reading →