Policy Corner

There is a broad consensus amongst Americans across the country that housing is unaffordable. The median single-family home now costs five times the median household income, the age of the median first-time homebuyer is now 40, and the United States has a housing shortage of roughly six million homes nationwide. The housing situation is so dire that Congress has noticed and has proposed different reforms to combat the crisis.

The Trump Administration is trying to sell the latest tariff battle as a response to trade imbalances and foreign economic pressure, but the actual issue is largely domestic. Indeed, the most recent ruling in Burlap and Barrel, Inc. v. Trump demonstrates that the question at hand is whether the president can levy taxes on Americans by rebranding his perceived economic grievances as a statutory emergency.

The takeaway from 2026 is clear: the push for guidance transparency is no longer limited to executive orders, it has entered the legislative mainstream.

Homeownership has become increasingly out of reach for many Americans. The median age of a first-time homebuyer is forty, home prices have increased by 150% since 2012, and the median single-family home now costs five times the median household income. The U.S. faces a housing shortage of approximately 4 to 8 million homes nationwide, driving up home prices and limiting inventory for young families.

The evidence is clear that CON laws are barriers to accessible, affordable, and high-quality care. By restricting competition and limiting investment in new supply, these restrictions make it harder for providers to respond to patient needs. States seeking to expand access and lower costs should move away from burdensome and obsolete CON programs and toward an open and competitive health care system.

James joins ‘The Rod and Greg Show’ to discuss how President Trump’s visit to China renews the debate over America’s dependence on Chinese minerals despite plenty of domestic reserves seemingly blocked by regulation.

James joins Dan Rea on ‘NightSide News Update’ to discuss why rare earth independence is increasingly tied to broader US-China economic competition. (Interview starts at 4:10)

At its core, this is about whether the United States is willing to build again. Critical minerals power everything from smartphones and advanced manufacturing to military technology and energy infrastructure, yet America continues to delay the very projects needed to secure those supply chains domestically. If policymakers want a stronger economy and a more secure future, they should start by fixing a permitting system that too often rewards obstruction over progress.

Lincoln warned that sacrifice must serve a necessary cause, requiring discipline in foreign policy and restraint in the use of force.

If government officials entered your home, opened your drawers, and sorted through your private papers, the intrusion would be obvious. It would also be deeply objectionable: your privacy and property would have been violated.