'The burden of the tariff would be regressive'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day


'Trump's tariffs would smother his economic successes'
Phil Gramm and Donald J. Boudreaux at The Wall Street Journal
Donald Trump "hopes to supercharge economic growth" by "imposing across-the-board tariffs of at least 10%," but there is "strong evidence that such measures wouldn't achieve the president-elect's objectives," say Phil Gramm and Donald J. Boudreaux. The tariffs "would also likely trigger a trade war that would erode, if not overwhelm, the positive effects of tax reform and deregulation." They would additionally "increase our production costs and reduce our competitiveness at home and abroad."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'Biden's legacy is secure, but he could augment it by stepping aside'
Carrie Friedman at The Washington Post
Joe Biden should "step down and install Vice President Kamala Harris as the 47th president of the United States," says Carrie Friedman. Biden "could show the world, show us all — but especially this country's moms, daughters, and the Black and Brown women who have carried this country on their backs — that it can happen, it can be done." The Supreme Court has "given the president immunity for official acts of the presidency. It's time to take advantage."
'DEI attacks are widening the racial wealth gap'
Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman at Bloomberg
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work "offers a path to real, lasting wealth generation, helps create a bigger consumer class, and it's good for the economy," says Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman. If "DEI is thoughtfully implemented, it complements — and doesn't overshadow — industrious, creative work." But "biases can push Black and Latino people into career pathways that are divorced from wealth-building," and "as a result, underrepresented minorities remain a substantial part of America's permanent economic underclass."
'Apps love to show us old photos. It might be harming us more than we think.'
Louis Staples at Slate
Many "digital memory prompts — being told 'You have a new memory!' by a device or app — are now a normal part of our lives," says Louis Staples. But "sometimes, we're reminded of things that aren't so funny." Smartphones "don't always get it right, and they might be making our lives more difficult." These "flashbacks also strip images of vital context," and "only posting the good parts of our lives can contribute to feelings of distress" in others.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Pope Francis obituary: modernising pontiff who took the Gospel to the margins
In the Spotlight For traditionalist Catholics, Jorge Bergoglio's reforms often seemed to go too far; progressives, though, will demand more of his successor
By The Week UK
-
Novel 'bone collector' caterpillar wears its prey
Speed Read Hawaiian scientists discover a carnivorous caterpillar that decorates its shell with the body parts of dead insects
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judge blocks key part of Trump's elections overhaul
Speed Read Colleen Kollar-Kotelly's decision temporarily bars federal officials from requiring Americans to prove they are citizens to register to vote
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Judge blocks key part of Trump's elections overhaul
Speed Read Colleen Kollar-Kotelly's decision temporarily bars federal officials from requiring Americans to prove they are citizens to register to vote
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Nearly a quarter of a billion children had their education interrupted by climate-related natural disasters'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US
-
Kevin Warsh: the man who could replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair
In the Spotlight Powell's term ends in 2026, and President Donald Trump will likely replace him
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
With Dick Durbin's retirement, where do Democrats go from here?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The number two Senate Democrat's pending departure is a pivotal moment for a party looking for leadership in the second Trump administration
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Nayib Bukele: the Salvadoran ally in Trump's deportation machine
In the Spotlight El Salvador's popular strongman rose to power promising to make his country safe
By David Faris
-
A dozen states sue Trump to halt tariffs
Speed Read The states sued in the US Court of International Trade, seeking to stop tariffs they say will damage their economies
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
'It is a test of Africa's will to lead, not follow'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK