Source: American Greatness
by Larry Sand

“After decades of steady growth, attendance in U.S. K–12 public schools has shifted drastically. Over the past five years, registration has fallen by 2.3 percent, or 1.18 million students, and schools show no signs of rebounding. Lower birth rates are the primary driver of the downturn. The number of births in the U.S. has decreased steadily in recent years, with 690,000 fewer children born in 2024 than in 2007. California lost nearly 75,000 TK–12 students as of the 2025–26 school year, a slide more than twice as steep as the previous year’s. Since 2017–18, the Golden State has seen a 10 percent decline. New York City has also been hard hit. As of the 2025–26 school year, 793,300 students are enrolled in K–12 schools, down nearly 10 percent since 2020. The loss of enrolled students has prompted some desperate measures.” (06/09/26)

https://amgreatness.com/2026/06/09/public-schools-are-in-a-downward-spiral/

Source: The Bulwark
by Robert Dallek

“In a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last August, President Donald Trump noted that Ukraine hadn’t held elections since the Russian invasion, asking whether elections are called off during a war. Before Zelensky could respond, Trump added: ‘Oh, that’s a good thing.’ Five months later, Trump mused apophatically about canceling elections out of disdain for Democrats. Just days after that, in an interview with Reuters, Trump reflected with his typical braggadocio that, given his great success as president, ‘we shouldn’t even have an election’ this November. The sheer number of times Trump brought up canceling elections forced White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to clarify that the president was only joking. But in light of Trump’s repeated affronts to democracy—including January 6th and his sustained lies about the results of the 2020 election—we are forced to take these remarks seriously.” (06/09/26)

https://www.thebulwark.com/p/talk-of-canceling-elections-shows-trump-is-unfit-for-office

Source: Niskanen Center
by Neil Miller

“Long-term planning can be admirable. Some contracts — say, for construction — will genuinely take five or more years to finish up. Or when vendors need to make huge upfront investments, a long payoff timeline can entice qualified competition. Locking in five-year tech contracts, however, just allows the solicitation sins of the father to be visited upon their children a decade later: Between now and 2031 (or 2033), needs will change, technology will advance, and the project budgets will rise and fall.” (06/08/26)

https://www.niskanencenter.org/spotting-concrete-boats-why-solicitation-sins-doom-contracts-to-struggle-2/

Source: Independent Institute
by Richard K Vedder

“Five indicators of a profound change in the fortunes of the male sex.” (06/08/26)

https://www.independent.org/article/2026/06/08/americas-war-on-men/

Source: Exiled Policy
by Jason Pye

“Congress can’t come close to balancing the budget by eliminating fraud in federal programs.” (06/08/26)

https://exiledpolicy.substack.com/p/the-white-house-deputy-chief-of-staff

Source: Foreign Policy
by John Haltiwanger

“U.S. President Donald Trump has become a passenger in the Iran war, despite insisting that he remains behind the wheel after months of failed efforts to reach a peace deal. And by attempting to portray himself as in control and denying complex realities on the ground, he has only made it more difficult to reach an agreement.” (06/08/26)

https://archive.is/kVCX6