Robert Shapiro and Sonecon in the news on the economy and important national and global issues

Medicare for All remains the most contentious and consequential issue for 2020 Democrats. It’s easy to see why. A large majority of Democrats—and a slimmer majority of Independents—have said they approve of it. But even larger majorities of Democrats and…. . . Read More

The brass ring for a Democratic presidential candidate is a plan that appeals to people’s sense of social justice and to their self-interest. The last two Democrats who won the White House pulled off this feat with promises to hike…. . . Read More

President Trump’s tax and tariff policies form the heart of an economic program that he’s promised will help average Americans. The hard data, however, show that he’s actually imposed substantial costs on about 70 percent of Americans. That’s because of…. . . Read More

At some point, every president has had to grapple with the fact that he is not a king. This unhappy realization usually comes after they’ve been unable to pass one of their biggest priorities through Congress. Recall Bill Clinton with…. . . Read More

Americans who use the internet—85.5 percent of us—have made a tacit bargain with Facebook, Google, MasterCard, Verizon, and most other sites and products we use regularly. We get access to these companies’ services, and they get to scoop up, analyze,…. . . Read More

Is your data worth $5 a month to tech companies? $20? More? How much would make you care?. . . Read More

How much credit does Donald Trump deserve on the economy? Based on the data, not much. Presidents deserve credit on the economy when their policy changes leave most people better off by creating conditions that stimulate employment, growth, investment, or…. . . Read More