How COVID helped some middle-class families, public opinion about the government, and reactions to Biden’s Afghanistan announcement.
| The US decision to withdraw from Afghanistan is the right one “Despite the inglorious departure, having the wisdom to liquidate unwise commitments and redirect resources toward more important priorities is a basic hallmark of a great power, and to the credit of the Biden administration.” Vanda Felbab-Brown reacts to the news that the U.S. will pull troops out of Afghanistan by September 11 and explains where the administration made some tactical errors in the announcement. Read more Taking a different view, Madiha Afzal and Michael O’Hanlon argue that withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan is a mistake and puts America at risk. |
| What Americans still want from reform Even as recent polling shows strong public support for President Biden’s $5 trillion “spend-whatever-it-takes-without-delay” agenda, Americans are divided on the future of government and public trust remains low. Paul Light assesses polling data on what Americans want from the federal government and how this may impact the Biden administration. Read more |
| Guilty secrets: How the COVID-19 pandemic helped some middle-class families From saving money to not having to pick up the kids from school, COVID-19 lockdowns eased pressures on some middle-class families who previously felt squeezed by time and resources. Hannah Van Drie and Morgan Welch highlight the complicated feelings expressed in their recent interviews with middle-class Americans and how they may inform policies to help all families after the pandemic. Read more |
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