National news these days is overwhelming. It comes out fast. It changes by the hour. It often raises more questions than it answers. And, depending on where you’re getting your news, it does little more than reinforce our biases.
This is bad — for our well-being, our ability to engage, and our democracy.
That’s why, in late February, Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt offered our readers a path through the fog:
You are your own editor these days. So each week from now on we’re going to provide you the must-read or must-see picks, without regard to ideology, that we think are worthy of your attention in an effort to get a handle on just what’s really happening in national affairs.
Here’s what to read this week:
Bidenomics created a manufacturing boom. Trump is tearing that up by the roots. by Ryan Cooper, The American Prospect
From the article: You wouldn’t know it from reading the slanted coverage in outlets like the Times and Bloomberg last year, but despite some hiccups, Biden’s plan worked … The reality is simple: American manufacturing is already experiencing a renaissance, and if Trump isn’t stopped, he is going to destroy it.
Related: Maps that show whose jobs trade war retaliation will hit hardest: Trump voters. by Lazaro Gamio and Ana Swanson, The New York Times
Stock prices go down, tariffs go up, MAHA comes for fast food, and much more. By Nellie Bowes, The Free Press
A humorous look at the week that was from “the best columnist in America.” — Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt
The Free Speech Podcast on Mahmoud Khalil. by FIRE
First Amendment lawyer Marc Randazza and immigration lawyer Jeffrey Rubin unravel the constitutional issues under attack by the Trump Administration.
Why Does Elon Musk Look Like He Just Got Out of a Hot Topic? Bill Burr on the Tonight Show
The Dems should nominate Bill Burr for president. This clip, starting at the 6:15 minute mark, is a great model for what opposition to stupidity should look like. Burr’s working-class common sense is not only funny — it’s desperately needed. — Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt
The Sorry State of U.S. Cities Is a Choice — A Really Bad One. by John Halpin, The Liberal Patriot
Halpin asks the questions (then dives into solutions): Would anyone seriously say that America’s biggest metropolises are living up to their full potential? Are America’s largest cities relatively easy to live and work in, with good transportation options, solid jobs, opportunities for small businesses to thrive, and mostly crime-free and socially stable neighborhoods?
Why Trump Doesn’t Want Judicial Review of His Deportation of Venezuelans. by Andrew C. McCarthy, The National Review
This conservative look at the wartime law President Trump has invoked to justify his deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members last weekend makes the case that two things can be true: It can be good to deport violent undocumented gang members, but it is still bad to violate the Constitution. — Roxanne Patel Shepelavy, Citizen Executive Director/Executive Editor
A Republican-backed bill would upend voter registration. by Jude Joffe-Block, NPR
Eight things to be aware of in the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) originally proposed last year as part of a false narrative that noncitizens were being recruited to vote in the 2024 election. (Call your reps to weigh in.)
Finally, some help with truth.
It is almost impossible to be your own fact-checker these days. That’s why News Guard’s Reality Check is so incredibly valuable. Check it out regularly.
MORE OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE CITIZEN