No Sex in the City
What to know: Young people are in a “sex recession,” having fewer romantic relationships than previous generations.
The TPPF take: Why is an entire generation opting out of intimacy?
“We live in a culture increasingly convinced that hope is naïve,” says TPPF’s Hannah Bruck. “The data, the apps, the accumulated lore of disappointment all seem to argue for lowered expectations. I find I cannot agree. In the face of every exhaustion-driven retreat and carefully worded non-commitment, wanting something real anyway is the most honest position available. It always was.”
For more on modern dating, click here.
Unbalanced
What to know: Fort Bend ISD trustees recently adopted a new FY 2027 budget that “includes a $32.8 million shortfall,” meaning the school district will spend far more than its income allows. It is far from alone too.
The TPPF take: School districts that adopt deficit budgets are inviting future trouble.
“It’s fiscally irresponsible for any government to spend more than its income allows. But for a school district to engage in deficit budgeting means that the well-being of children and taxpayers could be at risk in the future,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “It’s long past time for the Texas Legislature to enact a local government balanced budgeting requirement.”
For more on local spending, click here.
Mexico
What to know: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is escalating her anti-U.S. rhetoric.
The TPPF take: Sheinbaum’s speech signals an important shift in policy.
“Although the defense of national sovereignty is a legitimate position for any government, the speech combines three elements that may raise the bilateral cost: accusations of interference, questioning of the U.S. justice system, and an electoral interpretation of the actions of the U.S. Department of Justice,” says TPPF’s Alicia Galván López. “It is one of her strongest messages against alleged U.S. intervention in Mexico’s internal affairs, with the objective of protecting her politicians accused of drug trafficking.”
For more on Mexico, click here.