PPI

PPI’s research was cited in today’s New York Times coverage of the Supreme Court’s review of Trump-era tariffs. President Trump relied on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose or propose tariffs on over a third of U.S. imports—including cars, metals, and medical devices—under the guise of national security. This underscores the growing need for Congress to reassert its constitutional role in trade policy. https://lnkd.in/g-pX-bSs

As college basketball tips off this week, we’re revisiting PPI’s analysis of how NIL money, the transfer portal, and a $20 billion settlement are transforming the game. The data shows that programs with more NIL resources are making deeper postseason runs. Power schools are pouring money into recruiting and retention, leaving smaller programs struggling to keep up. College sports are now at a crossroads: without action to ensure fairness for smaller programs and protect athlete welfare, the gap between the haves and have-nots will only continue to widen. For a deeper look at how this new era in college sports is unfolding—and what policymakers can do to restore balance—read Diana Moss’ full analysis: https://lnkd.in/eZQVs56R

In Forbes, Bruno Manno makes the case for dual enrollment. Nearly 3 million high school students are now earning college credit, and community colleges have become the central bridge between high school, higher education, and the workforce. But scale alone isn’t success. Without coherence—standards, credit transferability, strong advising, and clear alignment to career pathways—dual enrollment risks becoming a scattershot system that benefits the few and leaves others behind. The next phase must be built on purpose: ensure credits count, connect programs to in-demand jobs, invest in student supports, and make outcomes transparent. Done right, dual enrollment can reduce time to degree, lower college costs, and expand access to good jobs. https://lnkd.in/eZhztqM5

After a disappointing 2024 election, some Democrats are turning to economic populism as the path forward. But in Le Monde, PPI’s Richard Kahlenberg argues that this approach misses the mark. Reviving the party’s appeal, he writes, requires more than class-based rhetoric — it demands a renewed moral and civic vision that bridges divides across race and class. Drawing on Robert F. Kennedy’s legacy of liberal patriotism, Kahlenberg highlights a model that championed civil rights and fair treatment for Black and Hispanic Americans, while emphasizing jobs over aid and being tough on crime. https://lnkd.in/erym8xgH

PPI’s Mary Guenther has submitted formal comments on the EU Space Act, urging the European Commission to reconsider a regulatory proposal that could undermine innovation and transatlantic cooperation in the space sector. As drafted, the Act could raise satellite production costs by up to 30%, impose unworkable technical requirements, and create de facto non-tariff barriers—particularly for U.S. companies. https://lnkd.in/e6J74Gg7

With regional escalation looming and U.S. support for Ukraine increasingly uncertain, Europe faces a pivotal moment. At a timely discussion hosted earlier this week, Tamar Jacoby—Director of PPI’s New Ukraine Project—joined Estonian Ambassador Kristjan Prikk, American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Dalibor Rohac, and The Hill’s Laura Kelly to examine how Europe and the U.S. can strengthen their response to Russian aggression and reinforce Ukraine’s defense.

Social Security is the cornerstone of retirement security for tens of millions of Americans—but it's on track to become insolvent by 2032, triggering a 24% across-the-board cut in benefits. The time for half-measures and political avoidance is over. In a new MarketWatch feature, PPI’s Ben Ritz outlines a forward-thinking plan to rebuild the program around a simple, powerful idea: benefits should reward years of work—not just income. PPI’s proposed framework would: 🔹 Provide robust, poverty-preventing benefits to anyone who works 20+ years 🔹 Offer caregiver credits and incentivize longer work lives 🔹 Modernize retirement ages and adjust COLAs to better reflect inflation 🔹 Close half the funding shortfall through benefit reforms alone 🔹 Preserve Social Security as an earned benefit—without overburdening younger workers https://lnkd.in/eKdNAEqX

Union Podcast Episode 17 LIVE: The Union with Curtis Valentine and Keri Rodrigues — the latest in public education news, policy, and politics. Today: David Osborne joins to discuss his Turnaround documentary and lessons from New Orleans’ schools, plus updates on the shutdown’s impact on special education.

Market power bottlenecks in the seed and fertilizer industries are raising costs for farmers, inflating food prices for consumers, and weakening the resilience and innovation of the American agricultural system. This week, Diana Moss testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on how lax antitrust enforcement has enabled consolidation across agricultural input markets. She outlined how concentrated control over seeds, fertilizer, and digital farming tools is squeezing producers, limiting consumer choice, and threatening the sustainability of U.S. food systems. https://lnkd.in/eRSvQF8e

Unilateral tariffs raise important questions—not just about economic impact, but about constitutional limits and executive authority. At the 2025 New Liberal Action Summit, Ed Gresser joined a timely discussion on how trade policy affects everyday Americans and why the Supreme Court is now reviewing the legality of tariffs imposed without congressional approval. The panel examined a wave of tariffs enacted under President Trump—imposed unilaterally through executive order and framed as national security measures. As the Supreme Court prepares to weigh in, the conversation underscored why U.S. trade policy must be economically sound, legally accountable, and anchored in the rule of law—not wielded as a tool of political discretion. https://lnkd.in/eVRwCgay