Once Recession-Proof, DC Feels the Pain From Federal Workforce Reductions

Source: Reason
by JD Tuccille

“The Washington, D.C. area has long had a reputation for being both wealthy and recession-proof, based on money forcibly extracted in the form of taxes from people living productive lives elsewhere in the United States. That may no longer be the case. Downsizing of the federal workforce concentrated in the DMV area—the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland and Virginia—has hit many residents hard, and some are considering leaving or have already done so. While it’s not nice to wish troubles on anybody, there’s nothing wrong with introducing government employees to the same risks and uncertainty that participants in the private sector face every day.” (09/28/26)

https://reason.com/2026/09/28/once-recession-proof-d-c-area-feels-pain-from-federal-workforce-reductions/

Sweden: Regime Faces Political Deadlock After Andersson Gives up Attempt to Form Government

Source: US News & World Report

“Attempts to form a new ⁠government ⁠in Sweden hit the buffers on Monday ⁠after Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson said she was unable to ​secure enough support, despite the centre-left bloc winning a narrow majority in this month’s election. … The speaker of Sweden’s parliament is now likely to ​turn to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to see if he can form a government. Kristersson’s Moderates are the next biggest party after the Social Democrats. … Andersson would likely get another shot at trying to form a government if any centre-right attempt fails. The speaker can put four candidates forward to parliament for approval, but if each is rejected, Sweden will hold a new election.” (09/28/26)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-09-28/swedish-opposition-leader-andersson-says-she-cannot-form-government-in-current-situation

Rich Baris on The Scott Horton Show

Source: The Scott Horton Show

“Scott interviews Rich Baris about his new book and the broader political trends he’s uncovered through his work as a pollster. Baris shares some unique insights into the dramatic shifts happening on both the left and right—especially with younger Americans—that are going mostly unnoticed thanks to antiquated polling conventions.” (09/27/26)

https://scotthorton.org/interviews/9-25-26-rich-baris-on-the-most-under-appreciated-trends-in-american-politics/

The Red Undertow in the Midterms

Source: Washington Monthly
by Charlie Cook

“People in a president’s party might be satisfied, complacent, a little disappointed, or deeply disillusioned, but they are rarely pumped up and energized, thinking, ‘I can’t wait to go vote.’ Conversely, people in the opposition party, particularly in this era of hyperpartisanship, hate anything the president is doing. They hate everything he might even think about doing. Everything. They want to relitigate the last election. They can’t wait to vote. And then you’ve got this little slice of pure independents, and I’m not talking about the 45 percent of all adults or the third of all registered voters who claim to be independents but consistently lean toward and vote for one party. I’m talking about the three to six percent who don’t lean toward either party and are legitimate independents. They tend to be very fickle.” (09/28/26)

https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/28/the-red-undertow-in-the-midterms/

French prosecutors seek two-year sentence for Rachida Dati in Renault graft case

Source: France 24 [French state media]

“France prosecutors on Monday sought two years with an electronic tag and a five-year ban on public office for ex-culture minister Rachida Dati in a trial on corruption charges linked to dealings with the Renault-Nissan group. They sought a four-year jail term for Carlos Ghosn, the fugitive former Renault-Nissan chief now living in Lebanon, who is being tried in absentia as part of the same trial in Paris. … [Dati] stands charged with corruption and influence peddling over alleged lobbying for Renault-Nissan between October 2009 and February 2013 while she was a member of the European Parliament.” (09/28/260

https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260928-french-prosecutors-seek-two-year-sentence-for-ex-minister-dati-in-graft-case