This week Jews around the world celebrated Purim, the story of Jews in Persia who were miraculously saved from Persian Prime Minister Haman by Mordechai and Queen Esther. The story of Purim is a reminder that history can turn in unexpected ways. As we watch events unfolding in that same land today, we are reminded that moments like this rarely fit into simple narratives. Sometimes two things can be true at the same time. It is reasonable to be troubled by the way the war in Iran began. The President bypassed constitutional norms in launching it, a move that many in Congress see as a slap in the face to the role of the legislative branch. Starting a war without congressional support and a credible plan for what comes next is extraordinarily risky. At the same time, American and Israeli intelligence carried out a precise and miraculously timed operation that eliminated Ayatollah Khamenei and numerous senior IRGC leaders in a single strike. But this tactical success will mean li...
This week I attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) conference in Washington, DC, alongside thousands of county leaders from across the country. During sessions on economic development, cybersecurity, and fiscal policy, one message came through clearly, regardless of party: federal funding is likely to shrink, and local governments must prepare now. A session titled "The Federal Fiscal Cliff Ahead" outlined the discretionary programs counties rely on, the mandates we must meet, and the structural pressures ahead. There was some discussion about Social Security. While the trust fund faces long-term strain, federal law still requires benefits to be paid, and ongoing payroll taxes continue to fund the program. That means Congress will have to act to address the gap, but the obligation itself does not simply disappear, even if the trust fund gets depleted. The same is not true for programs like Medicaid and SNAP, which depend on annual federal appropriati...