Quick Hits

The data points and headlines below paint a picture of a second Trump term shaped by economic uncertainty, voter skepticism and a media landscape in flux. While Americans worry about inflation, President Trump’s policies and rhetoric are sparking fresh debate over the direction of the country—and who gets to define it.

The public reaction to Trump’s latest address to Congress:

How the reaction compared to his past speeches:

How the reception compared to other presidents:

Trump’s marathon address was exactly what you’d expect—boastful, combative and laced with self-congratulation over his administration’s rapid-fire policy moves.

Bubba’s Two Cents: It’s tempting to overanalyze the moment. But at the end of the day this whole affair—Trump’s boasting, Democrats resisting—is more spectacle than substance. The real takeaway from the polling is that, despite all the momentum his administration seemingly has right now, Trump is still a polarizing figure, especially when stacked against past presidents.

An Oil Trend

Per a new American Enterprise Institute analysis, 2024 was “another banner year” for U.S. energy. For the seventh year in a row, the U.S. led the world in oil production, setting yet another record in December 2024. Natural gas followed suit, surging 45% since 2014 and notching its fourth consecutive year of record-breaking output.

Bubba’s Two Cents: The big picture here is that the United States has steadily reshaped the global energy balance, cutting into OPEC’s dominance and loosening the grip of oil-rich but politically volatile nations. As American production soars, reliance on Russia and Middle Eastern suppliers has waned, shifting the power dynamics of the energy market. Drill baby, drill?

New “Chart of the Century”

Economist Mark J. Perry is out with his latest "Chart of the Century," which tracks price changes in U.S. consumer goods and services from 2000 to 2024, revealing a sharp divergence—while essentials like healthcare (+256%), college tuition (+188%), and housing (+104%) have far outpaced overall inflation (87.3%), consumer goods like TVs (-98%), toys (-74%), and software (-74%) have become dramatically more affordable.

Bubba’s Two Cents: Few things illustrate the tensions at the heart of the U.S. economy better than Perry’s chart—why do TVs and software keep getting cheaper while hospital visits and college degrees skyrocket? Is government intervention the culprit? Should we be bringing more manufacturing back home? Or is this just the way modern economies evolve? One visual, endless opinions.

NYT Writers on Trump’s First Month

A new chart from The New York Times ranks issues from Trump’s first month based on how important and impactful Times columnists and opinion writers think they are, with Ukraine seen as the most significant and topics like trans issues and the Eric Adams case as least consequential.

Bubba’s Two Cents: If you ever needed proof that The Times still sees itself as the gatekeeper of political discourse, this chart delivers. But, as conservative activist Christopher Rufo has noted, here’s what’s actually interesting: even their hand-picked commentators are conceding that DEI’s time has passed. When the consensus starts shifting in their circles, you know the tides have turned.

Trump’s Priorities

A new CBS News/YouGov poll reveals what Americans believe should be top priorities for Donald Trump’s presidency. The economy (82%) and inflation (80%) dominate the list, reflecting ongoing financial concerns. Meanwhile, the federal workforce, which has been a primary focus for Trump and DOGE, ranks comparatively lower.

Bubba’s Two Cents: I don’t think we should be panicking about the economy right now. But the fact is the unemployment rate is starting to tick up and consumers are cutting spending. The new administration has deflected criticism so far by saying this is still Joe Biden’s economy. I think that’s a totally fair argument right now, but it won’t be forever.

University Bloat

A new analysis from American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Preston Cooper captures the scale of administrative bloat at American colleges and universities. The top 20% of colleges with the highest staff-student ratios have 366 noninstructional staff per 1,000 students—more than one staff member for every three students.

Bubba’s Two Cents: With DOGE charging full speed ahead on slashing inefficiencies, it’s no surprise that bloated institutions—especially those propped up by government funding—are in the crosshairs. Sure, the Trump administration’s cost-cutting moves have—in some cases justifiably—ruffled feathers, but there’s a real case to be made that administrative excess isn’t just a government problem—it’s ballooned across universities, public schools and even healthcare.

The Bias Meter

This week, the Los Angeles Times rolled out its new AI-powered "Bias Meter," which analyzes and labels articles along the political spectrum while also providing alternative viewpoints and summaries of each piece. The move comes as part of new owner Patrick Soon-Shiong’s efforts to combat perceptions of bias in the mainstream press and to restore the declining credibility of the industry.

Bubba’s Two Cents: I applaud the effort but ultimately I don’t think this is the right solution because the large majority of the U.S. public is under no illusion of where the mainstream media’s sympathies lie. If it’s even possible to fix things (currently nearly 70% of Americans say they have zero or very little trust in mass media), the reforms are going to have to be much deeper and take place at a fundamental level.