'That feared recession can become a self-fulfilling prophecy'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day


'We're likely not in a recession — but we could talk ourselves into one'
Catherine Rampell at The Washington Post
The United States is "probably not in recession yet. But we could well talk ourselves into one," says Catherine Rampell. It originally seemed the Federal Reserve "was almost certain to achieve a coveted 'soft landing'; now we're in for some turbulence at the very least." The "main concern now is that widespread negativity can start to feed on itself," so "even if the recent data don't yet doom us to a downturn, enough doom-mongering could."
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.
'The Tim Walz pick is a win for economic populism'
Zeeshan Aleem at MSNBC
Tim Walz "seems like the sharpest choice" for Harris' vice president, says Zeeshan Aleem. Walz "possesses the sensibilities and accomplishments of an outspoken economic populist," which is "also an effective way to counteract the siren call of right-wing populism." His "recent legislative record as governor illustrates serious ambition for sweeping social policies designed to help ordinary Americans achieve economic freedom." Walz's emergence "signals that the Democratic Party has a growing appetite for bold populism."
'Medicaid is bloated, pricey, and ineffective. Here's a simple fix.'
Liam Sigaud at National Review
Medicaid has "morphed from a targeted safety net for America's most vulnerable citizens into a bloated program plagued by fraud, inefficiency, and poor results," says Liam Sigaud. The "deeper problem is that federal funding for Medicaid is distributed in a way that incentivizes excessive spending and undermines the program's core mission." The government "provides more-generous support for less needy individuals and comparatively less support for those who are in greatest need of care."
'China is neither collapsing nor booming'
Howard W. French at Foreign Policy
China has seen "countless modernizations," but people are "sometimes prone to overreading these surface-level changes by seeing them as signs of China's destiny to lead the world in the 21st century," says Howard W. French. When determining a perspective, neither "starry-eyed or jaded is warranted when thinking about China." Many of China's policies "will prove misguided or inefficient in the long run," but "in a country of China's size ... many will also succeed."
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.
-
Some mainstream Democrats struggle with Zohran Mamdani's surprise win
TALKING POINT To embrace or not embrace? A party in transition grapples with a rising star ready to buck political norms and energize a new generation.
-
How to make music part of your vacation
Let the rhythm move you
-
What is credit card churning and why is it risky?
the explainer Churners frequently open new credit cards with the intent of earning a welcome bonus and accessing other perks
-
'If smoke can affect health early in life, it also can affect life's end'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
'The arts are not just expressions of creativity'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
'Alligator Alcatraz will be a blight on the Everglades'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
How Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral run will change the Democratic Party
Talking Points The candidate poses a challenge to the party's 'dinosaur wing'
-
'HBCUs have always had to think more strategically'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
The ambiguous legal state of ectopic pregnancy care
The Explainer Rep. Kat Cammack's accusations of 'fearmongering' are the latest example of how mixed messages are complicating the debate around abortion
-
'Self-segregation by political affiliation is spreading'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Army commissions tech execs as officer recruits
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Some of the tech industry's most powerful players are answering the call of Uncle Sam