PPI

Join us tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. ET for a timely conversation on public school choice, equity, and the future of urban education. Co-hosted by the Progressive Policy Institute and The 74 Media, this virtual event will explore how New Orleans transformed its public education system after Hurricane Katrina—and what other cities can learn from that bold experiment. Speakers: 🔹 Curtis Valentine, Director, Future Learning Network, PPI 🔹 David Osborne, Director, Turnaround 🔹 Leslie Jacobs, Founder, Educate Now 🔹 Jerel Bryant, CEO, Collegiate Academies https://lnkd.in/eCcqF2V5

Diana Moss will testify tomorrow before the D.C. Council on the RESALE Amendment Act of 2025, which proposes to cap ticket resale prices and restrict transferability. Her testimony challenges the premise of the bill: rather than protecting consumers, these measures would entrench Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s dominance, reduce market competition, and limit options for fans. The resale market is the only meaningful check on the primary ticketing monopoly—and restricting it risks pushing fans back into high-fee, low-transparency systems. Policymakers should focus on curbing monopoly power in the live events industry, not regulating away its only competition. https://lnkd.in/e_THmNGQ

The Trump administration has promised to use tariff revenue for everything from troop salaries to farm bailouts. But there’s one big problem: that money isn’t theirs to spend. Tariff revenue—roughly $200 billion this year—automatically flows into the U.S. Treasury, where only Congress can decide how it’s used. PPI’s Ed Gresser puts it plainly: “The basic core thing is tariff money is not different from other sorts of money. And relative to these other sorts of money, it’s small. It’s costly to the public, but it hasn’t changed the government’s fiscal position at all.” https://lnkd.in/eny49SEt

Join us Wednesday, October 22, at 2:00 p.m. ET for a timely conversation on public school choice, equity, and the future of urban education. Co-hosted by the Progressive Policy Institute and The 74 Media, this virtual event will explore how New Orleans transformed its public education system after Hurricane Katrina—and what other cities can learn from that bold experiment. Speakers: 🔹 Curtis Valentine, Director, Future Learning Network, PPI 🔹 David Osborne, Director, Turnaround 🔹 Leslie Jacobs, Founder, Educate Now 🔹 Jerel Bryant, CEO, Collegiate Academies https://lnkd.in/eCcqF2V5

Estonia is once again a flashpoint in Europe’s struggle against Russian aggression—and a powerful reminder of why alliances matter. In a compelling report from Tallinn for The Washington Monthly, Tamar Jacoby highlights Estonia’s frontline position, deep commitment to NATO, and the larger questions looming for U.S. leadership. While some in Washington waver, Estonia is doubling down: mandatory conscription, 5.4% of GDP to defense, and total political unity. The stakes are high. As Russia tests NATO’s resolve, the U.S. must reaffirm its role as a reliable partner. https://lnkd.in/e5g4YN64

LIVE: The Union with Curtis Valentine and Keri Rodrigues — the latest in public education news, policy, and politics. Today: The continued fallout from the federal government shutdown and how it affects the Department of Education.

Trump’s “economic nationalism” isn’t a strategy for future prosperity—it’s central planning, MAGA-style. In his new piece for The Hill, PPI President Will Marshall explains how tariffs are raising prices, weakening U.S. manufacturing, and distracting from the true economic imperative: mastering the next wave of innovation in AI, clean energy, and biotech. As protectionism spreads across the political spectrum, Marshall argues it’s time for Democrats to lead with a forward-looking strategy—one rooted in openness, innovation, and economic dynamism. https://lnkd.in/dN7mEEvy

AI is attracting massive investment—but unlike past tech surges, this one carries less systemic risk. As PPI Chief Economist Michael Mandel explains in The Free Press, today’s AI buildout is largely equity-financed. That means if companies fail, losses are absorbed by shareholders—not lenders—limiting broader economic fallout. More importantly, today’s investors are agile and responsive. “They’re ready to pivot when they learn what works and what doesn’t,” Mandel notes. This adaptability, combined with market-driven capital allocation, makes the current wave of AI development a more stable foundation for long-term innovation. https://lnkd.in/ebiRRQvv

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this morning’s Women in Policy Alliance Coffee & Conversation. From networking and collaboration to supporting career growth, this event continues to foster a vibrant community of women working across the policy landscape in D.C. We’re proud to help cultivate the next generation of policy leaders—and grateful to all who make these conversations meaningful.

In this week’s Trade Fact, PPI’s Ed Gresser breaks down the sweeping and legally dubious tariff increases imposed by the Trump administration—tariffs that have raised costs for American manufacturers, slowed growth, and damaged exports, all without Congressional approval. Polls show that 63% of Americans disapprove of these emergency-based trade actions. The Senate now has an opportunity to restore constitutional authority over tariff policy and mitigate further economic harm. https://lnkd.in/etR-nx6s