'Trump's economic message is a bribe'

'The fool's gold of an allegedly booming economy'

Ed Kilgore at New York magazine 

Former President Donald Trump's 2024 coalition includes more than just MAGA culture warriors, says Ed Kilgore at New York magazine. Trump is conjuring up "positive memories" of the economy when he was in office. His economic message is meant to distract swing voters, and "bribe" them to join in. Fretting about rising consumer and home prices? Pay no attention to the "racism, forced birth, homophobia," and partisan rioting. "Here's some money for you, generated by the 'greatest economy ever!'"

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'America needs to get to the bottom of the sea'

China has jumped to cash in on the next great "resource bonanza," says James Stavridis at Bloomberg. Parts of the deep seabed hold "very valuable" deposits of minerals including cobalt, lithium, manganese, nickel, and copper. "Natural-resource poor" China has rushed to file 15% of the world's registered claims with the International Seabed Authority, which oversees distribution of the resources. The U.S. has filed none. It's time for Washington to catch up. "The stakes are high."  

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'Block Biden's efforts to make the border crisis worse'

Washington Examiner editorial board

President Biden followed up September's awful illegal immigration numbers by requesting more money for his failed border policies, says the Washington Examiner editorial board. He tied the request to Ukraine and Israel aid, demanding funding for migrant services and streamlining refugee processing, but not a dime "to slow illegal immigration." Republicans should do whatever it takes to "block Biden's efforts," which would only "throw gasoline onto the raging inferno of illegal immigration."

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'It's not looking good for Trump'

Kim Wehle in The Bulwark

Donald Trump's legal troubles just got worse, says Kim Wehle in The Bulwark. In exchange for immunity, his last White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, is cooperating with special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into the former president's efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. Meadows "was at the heart of everything related to the Trump 'Stop the Steal' effort," including the "fake electors scheme." He "can speak firsthand" about "Trump's knowledge and state of mind."

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