InsideSources

InsideSources Elevating debate with opinion, news, and analysis from policy and industry experts. Visit www.insidesources.com to learn more.

InsideSources is elevating debate with opinion, news, and analysis from policy and industry experts. We’re a non-partisan news organization that knows our politically-sophisticated readers expect more than the same boring talking points. It’s time we all stop talking past each other and begin a fact-based dialogue. We’re focused on energy and technology policy, while also offering in-depth analysis of economic, political, and statistical trends.

How Charlie Kirk Inspired a Generation by Christy Petriccione."Like so many others, the news of Charlie Kirk’s passing l...
09/11/2025

How Charlie Kirk Inspired a Generation by Christy Petriccione.

"Like so many others, the news of Charlie Kirk’s passing left me speechless. Thinking first of his wife, his children, and the generation of young Americans he inspired–including me. As tributes pour in, I wanted to find a way to capture the gravity of Charlie’s influence on millions of us who found courage through his work.

"Growing up, my family believed the three most important things were God, family, and country. My grandfather served in World War II, and I remember him and my dad always reminding me how fragile democracy is and how vital it is to stand up for the things you believe in. Living in Connecticut as a conservative, that wasn’t always easy.

"I became politically engaged around eighth grade, when my social studies class studied the Constitution. We broke down each section of the Preamble: 'We the People,' 'In order to form a more perfect union,' 'Establish justice,' 'Insure domestic tranquility,' and so on. We, of course, also learned the Schoolhouse Rock song. It was then that I started to realize that my conservative beliefs were not always welcome. By high school, a teacher told me my opinions 'were not valid in his classroom.' That moment made me realize how dangerous it could be to stay silent.

"In college, I studied political science and quickly recognized the ideological leanings of many of my professors. I knew those weren’t views I shared, and I searched for a place to find my own voice. That’s when I discovered the College Republican National Committee and Turning Point USA.

"I had already seen Charlie on social media and watched the events he hosted on college campuses, encouraging young Americans to stand for free speech and conviction. I was drawn to their 'Big Government Sucks' stickers and energetic gatherings where like-minded young adults finally had a space for free thought.

"In 2018, I attended the Student Action Summit hosted by TPUSA in Palm Beach, Florida. I remember being almost starstruck hearing from voices like Donald Trump Jr., Dana Loesch, Jordan Peterson, Sebastian Gorka, and others. But it was Charlie’s words that stayed with me most. He spoke about how proud he was to have built a space for us to come together, no matter our paths, united by faith, family, and the defense of life and liberty.

"Because of that space, and Charlie’s example, I pursued a political career in Washington, D.C.–believing that anyone can make a difference, even me. ..."

Like so many others, the news of Charlie Kirk’s passing left me speechless. Thinking first of his wife, his children, and the generation of young

Point: Trump’s Invasion of D.C. Makes the Case for Statehood by Tim Kumfer."Donald Trump took over the D.C. police force...
09/11/2025

Point: Trump’s Invasion of D.C. Makes the Case for Statehood by Tim Kumfer.

"Donald Trump took over the D.C. police force and deployed the National Guard under the pretense of 'rescuing the nation’s capital from crime.'

"Of course, masked officers roaming the streets and intimidating and harassing residents haven’t made the city feel safer. A checkpoint was set up just a few blocks from my home, with 'traffic safety' offered as a pretext for ICE agents to arrest and detain immigrants. Nearby, vulnerable unhoused residents watched in vain as their belongings were bulldozed per the president’s orders.

"Perhaps Trump’s takeover of Washington is intended to distract from his unpopular Medicaid cuts, weak job numbers, and the Epstein files. Maybe it’s another attempt to suppress blue cities led by Black mayors. Whatever it is, this despotic attempt to manufacture a crisis amid a steady decline in violent crime will do little to make D.C. safe.

"It also demonstrates the urgent need for D.C. to become a state.

"Trump’s authority to call up the local police force and D.C. National Guard on an emergency basis stems from the Home Rule Act of 1973. While home rule enabled Washington to elect its own mayor and city council, it preserved veto power for Congress over its laws and budget. It left the city susceptible to federal intervention.

"While among the gravest threats to the city’s tenuous self-governance, Trump’s order is the latest in a long line of assaults.

"Over the years, Congress has overturned or prevented the implementation of D.C. laws related to abortion access, ma*****na legalization, needle exchanges and sentencing reforms. Last spring, House Republicans stripped $1 billion from the city’s approved budget, forcing cuts to programs that were already paid for with local tax dollars.

"With no voting representation in the House or Senate — and only three votes in the Electoral College — the city has few ways to advance its interests or protect itself from harmful interference.

"The solution is simple: Grant the city the same constitutional rights that citizens of other states enjoy. By redefining the federal district to encompass the downtown federal core, the remainder of the city can be admitted to the union as previous territories were. ..."

For an alternate viewpoint, see: Counterpoint: D.C. Should Not Become a State. Ever. Donald Trump took over the D.C. police force and deployed the

Counterpoint: D.C. Should Not Become a State. Ever. by Grover Norquist."The District of Columbia should not become a sta...
09/11/2025

Counterpoint: D.C. Should Not Become a State. Ever. by Grover Norquist.

"The District of Columbia should not become a state. Ever.

"The Constitution established the District of Columbia to be the home of the newly created federal government so that it was not 'in' and thereby 'under the control or influence' of any one state.

"Put the capital city in New York, and the state would have unequal control over the federal city and government. Ditto for Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

"There will be no immediate decision on 'statehood,' as it would require a constitutional amendment, and that would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate and ratification by three-fourths of the states.

"So why the conversation?

"Because Democrats would like two more Democratic senators and one more congressman without having to change their failed policies that have cost them control of the House and Senate in recent years.

"Between 1932 and 1994 — 64 years — Republicans only won full control of Congress twice: once under Truman and once under Eisenhower.

"But in 1994, Republicans had completed their decision to become the party that would never raise taxes. Ninety-six percent of Republicans signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to oppose all tax hikes. And they have kept that pledge, never raising taxes and reducing them whenever they had a majority and the presidency.

"Since 1994 the anti-tax Republican Party has controlled Congress (both houses) for 18 years, and Democrats have done so for six years. Congress was divided for six years.

"The same shift in Republican control in many previously Democratic states has seen income taxes in red states reduced year after year. Today there are eight states with no state income tax, 16 states with a single flat rate, and 12 states (all Republican-led) committed to moving their states to zero income tax.

"People have been moving for several decades from high-tax, Democratic-led states. New York, California and Illinois come to mind.

"The discussion of D.C. statehood is an effort to increase the number of Democrats in Congress without slowing down the tax-and-spend politics that are scheduled to drive a half-dozen congressional seats out of New York and California after the 2030 census. Democrats are driving workers away from blue states by taxing them, and those workers are also voters. Those voters determine how many congressional seats are allotted to each state.

"So we will hear a good deal about how unfair it is to D.C. residents that they have 'taxation without representation.' That isn’t their real goal. ..."

For an alternate viewpoint see: Point: Trump’s Invasion of D.C. Makes the Case for Statehood. The District of Columbia should not become a state. Ever.

A Crisis in Our Courts: Why Federal Public Defense Needs Our Immediate Attention by Andrew Birrell and Lisa Wayne."The g...
09/11/2025

A Crisis in Our Courts: Why Federal Public Defense Needs Our Immediate Attention by Andrew Birrell and Lisa Wayne.

"The government ran out of money to pay for justice.

"That’s the stark reality that federal public defense lawyers across the country are facing. With nearly three months remaining in the fiscal year, hundreds of dedicated 'panel lawyers' (private attorneys who represent accused individuals unable to afford a lawyer) stopped receiving payment for their work. The reason for this funding crisis was not waste, fraud, or mismanagement. It was a conscious decision by Congress in March to pass a continuing resolution that froze all Judicial Branch funding at 2024 levels for a full year, ignoring repeated warnings that such a move would be catastrophic.

"This is not just a bureaucratic hiccup; it is an assault on one of our nation’s most fundamental promises. The Sixth Amendment guarantees that a person accused of a crime has the right to counsel. For more than 90 percent of federal defendants who cannot afford to hire their own lawyer, public defense attorneys uphold this promise. While some are salaried public defenders, panel attorneys stand in the gap. These small business owners take on cases, working for months, even years, on a promise from the federal government that they will be paid for their work. On July 3rd, the federal government broke its promise.

"The human cost of this decision is profound and far-reaching. Most of the attorneys being left in limbo are not wealthy corporate lawyers. Approximately 85 percent of panel attorneys are solo practitioners or work in small firms. For them, this payment is not a windfall; it is the lifeblood of their business, covering rent, utilities, staff salaries, and health insurance. Many are also saddled with crushing student loan debt, with a recent report showing the average law school graduate carries debt of more than $143,000.

"The impact extends far beyond the lawyers. Also unpaid are the bills of investigators, many of whom are former law enforcement officers and military veterans, as well as paralegals, social workers, interpreters, expert witnesses, and other professionals essential to building a fair defense. The government’s non-payment forces these professionals to make impossible choices. They are taking out personal loans, risking default on mortgages, and in some cases, laying off staff. The government’s proposed 'solution' of robbing Peter to pay Paul by using funds from the FY26 budget to cover these past-due debts will only ensure the crisis repeats itself next year.

"This funding shortfall is a symptom of a deeply misguided set of priorities. While public defense has been left to flounder, Congress has historically found hundreds of millions more for the Department of Justice. The message is clear: the U.S. government will fund the prosecution of cases, but we won’t fund the defense of the people. This lopsided approach erodes the integrity of our justice system. The defense function doesn’t control the number of people arrested or the complexity of the cases; it simply responds to the actions of the government. ..."

The government ran out of money to pay for justice. That's the stark reality that federal public defense lawyers across the country are facing. With

RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaccine Crusade Is a Public Health Disaster by Mackenzie France."In April 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ann...
09/11/2025

RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaccine Crusade Is a Public Health Disaster by Mackenzie France.

"In April 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his Presidential bid in Boston, promising to ‘Make America Healthy Again.’ Since becoming President Donald Trump’s secretary of health, RFK has made a mockery of this promise, undermining decades of public health consensus. RFK’s tenure has recently reached its lowest point thus far, with the explosive departure of Director Susan Monarez from the CDC. Four other officials parted with the CDC over RFK’s leadership, with one accusing him of 'weaponization of public health.'

"RFK’s gutting of the U.S.’s vaccine infrastructure is perhaps his most glaring failure thus far. A long-time vaccine ‘skeptic,’ RFK has spent much of his career spreading vaccine misinformation concerning safety and long-term side effects. In 2005, RFK published a now-infamous article in Rolling Stone and Salon, titled ‘Deadly Immunity.’ The piece argued a common anti-vaccine trope, supposedly identifying a link between vaccines and autism. Though this piece was later retracted, the damage was already done.

"Public health experts were aghast at RFK’s recent attacks on mRNA vaccines, as well as his decision to axe $500 million in funding for future mRNA projects. It is rare in politics to find a position that requires almost no nuance; RFK’s policy is guided by pure misinformation. As Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, put it, RFK’s rhetoric on vaccines is 'simply not true.'

"RFK has found virtually zero public health professionals to support his crusade against vaccines. Instead of reflecting on why this might be, the Secretary of Health took matters into his own hands in June and fired all 17 members of the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP was previously responsible for creating U.S. vaccine policy, providing the framework for routine vaccines in the U.S. Kennedy Jr. said the complete shake-up of ACIP was 'necessary to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science.' The truth is likely much simpler; RFK deemed it necessary to remove the qualified experts previously sitting on ACIP to free his hand on vaccines.

"RFK’s new ACIP is already busy vandalizing public health. A conference held at the end of June on the influenza vaccine saw the new ACIP vote to recommend that Americans only get flu vaccines in single doses, free of a mercury-derived preservative called ‘thimerosal.’ Concerns around thimerosal are rooted in historic misinformation on a debunked link between vaccines and autism. Public health experts present at the conference also recognized this; Dr. Jason Goldman, head of the American College of Physicians, said during the public comments section of the conference, 'Many statements have been made [here] today without support of science or evidence but merely opinion.'

"Vaccine confidence in the U.S. has fallen since the pandemic — in large part thanks to the misinformation peddled by Kennedy Jr. and his ilk — and this is having a real impact on communal immunity for preventable diseases like measles. The percentage of US school-age children receiving the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine fell from 95 percent in 2019 to 92 percent in 2023. Dr Robert H. Shmerling, a senior faculty editor at Harvard Health Publishing, wrote recently that the 92 percent figure is below the standard required to protect individuals and their communities from measles. ..."

In April 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his Presidential bid in Boston, promising to ‘Make America Healthy Again.’ Since becoming President Donald

Five Years After the PMTA Deadline, the To***co Control Act Still Protects Ci******es Over Smokers by Lindsey Stroud."Se...
09/11/2025

Five Years After the PMTA Deadline, the To***co Control Act Still Protects Ci******es Over Smokers by Lindsey Stroud.

"September 9 marked the fifth anniversary of the deadline for premarket to***co applications (PMTAs) for newly deemed to***co products – largely e-ci******es – submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In that time, despite receiving millions of applications for products used by adults long before the FDA decided to regulate them, the agency has authorized the sale of only 39 products, from just four manufacturers.

"The failure lies not only in the FDA’s process, but in the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and To***co Control Act (TCA) itself – a law that has propped up one particular company, preserved cigarette sales, and proven unresponsive to both American small businesses and the goal of to***co harm reduction. It is long overdue for Congress to correct the mistake of allowing the FDA to control to***co and harm reduction products.

"The TCA was supposed to be a health care victory. It banned flavors other than to***co and menthol in ci******es, eliminated sponsorships and promotions, and gave the FDA sweeping authority over all to***co products. But within the law was an arbitrary date: February 15, 2007. That date determined whether a product would be considered 'new' and subject to the burdensome PMTA process, while 'old' products could continue through the less rigorous substantial equivalence pathway. Some large to***co companies endorsed the TCA, while others sounded alarms. Competitors warned that the FDA 'is unlikely to approve many new products' and that the TCA 'would make it harder to let consumers know there are options available to them.' They were right.

"E-ci******es first appeared in the United States in 2007 and were therefore swept into the 'new' category. Seven years after the TCA became law, the FDA formally 'deemed' e-ci******es and other harm reduction products as to***co in 2016, subjecting them to the TCA’s framework and requiring PMTAs. The agency delayed implementation several times, at one point extending deadlines to 2021 for combustible products and 2022 for non-combustibles like e-ci******es. Public health groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics and Campaign for To***co-Free Kids sued, arguing the delay was unlawful. In 2019, a federal judge vacated the extensions and ordered a new deadline of May 2020. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the court extended the deadline to September 9, 2020.

"Between 2019 and 2024, the FDA received more than 26 million applications across e-ci******es, heated to***co, and oral ni****ne pouches. To date, just 81 products have been authorized for marketing across nine companies. After acquisitions, only seven distinct manufacturers remain. One manufacturer – through its acquisitions and its own products – has secured marketing orders for 36 products, about 44 percent of all PMTA authorizations. This outcome is exactly what critics predicted in 2009: a regulatory system tilted to protect one dominant to***co company while stifling competition and innovation. ..."

September 9 marked the fifth anniversary of the deadline for premarket to***co applications (PMTAs) for newly deemed to***co products – largely

The New Insider Threat is in Your Pocket by Chris Risley."The plot of spy movies for decades turned on photographs of se...
09/11/2025

The New Insider Threat is in Your Pocket by Chris Risley.

"The plot of spy movies for decades turned on photographs of secret weapons or documents taken by pocket-sized spy cameras. Today, everyone carries a potential spy camera in their pocket, which is 50 times more powerful than the ones in the movies. And unlike old films, images don’t need to be smuggled out on microfilm. They can be sent instantly anywhere in the world.

"This improvement in consumer spying technology has not gone unnoticed by the spies. Recently, Patrick Wei, a former U.S. Navy sailor, was convicted in San Diego of using his cell phone to photograph classified documents and Naval blueprints before sending them to his foreign handlers. His case is one of several that have come through the courts this year. Another trial is set to start in Portland, Oregon, involving Joint Base McChord and the manuals for the HIMARS Rocket System. In June, Michael Schena, a 20-year veteran State Department employee with a Top Secret clearance, pleaded guilty to using an iPhone 14, provided by his handlers, to photograph SECRET documents displayed on his computer screen.

"Cases like these, where an indictment is filed, are just the tip of the iceberg. Many cases are handled outside the courts because prosecutors are concerned that defendants will reveal government secrets during their trials.

"Cell phone technology has advanced rapidly, but government efforts to counter its use in espionage have lagged. Thousands of government facilities have posted signs stating, 'No unauthorized electronic devices permitted.' Yet, fewer than 10% of those facilities actively monitor for unauthorized transmitters operating in those facilities.

"Just as drivers often ignore a 65-mph speed limit sign if there’s no trooper with a radar gun, federal employees may disregard ‘No unauthorized electronic devices’ signs if they think no one will notice a phone in their pocket. It’s easy to understand why people bend the rules: cell phones are useful. A spouse may call, a kid might need a ride, or the plumber might finally ring back.

"We all understand the utility, but most of us don’t work in facilities where a single device can put national security at risk. Taking on a job in a secure facility requires giving up some conveniences that your fellow citizens take for granted. And one of the conveniences you have to sacrifice is constant cell phone availability. It’s why the signs are there. ..."

The plot of spy movies for decades turned on photographs of secret weapons or documents taken by pocket-sized spy cameras. Today, everyone carries a

We Helped Build the CFTC. Don’t Let States Tear it Down. by Max Baucus and Saxby Chambliss."The business of competition ...
09/11/2025

We Helped Build the CFTC. Don’t Let States Tear it Down. by Max Baucus and Saxby Chambliss.

"The business of competition in sports is exploding beyond athletes, with most Americans now enjoying a range of options from gambling sites like DraftKings to prediction markets like Kalshi. As the industry booms, state gambling regulators are trying to assert authority over all of it, including prediction markets, in a direct threat to the global financial markets.

"The matter is now being contested in courts across the U.S. But the law is clear, thanks to reforms we helped shape after the 2008 financial crisis: Prediction markets should have to answer to their federal regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and nobody else.

"Our strong belief in this principle is why we signed on to an amicus brief supporting Kalshi in its legal fight against the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. The case, now before the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, has profound implications: If Kalshi loses, states could have carte blanche to prohibit any futures or other derivatives contract they object to, potentially throwing the $730 trillion global derivatives market into chaos.

"Such an outcome would also undermine the post-crisis changes we worked on in Congress. If the states are successful in unwinding that authority, they will invite a global disaster that dwarfs the wreckage of the last crisis.

"To understand where we are, it’s important to know how we got here. Congress created the CFTC a half-century ago to replace a messy state-level patchwork that failed to police cheating, fraud and manipulation in futures markets. It instead granted the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction over futures trading in all commodities. Wielding sole and sweeping power, the CFTC fulfilled its promise: Futures markets matured and flourished.

"Thirty-five years later, those of us serving in Congress in the aftermath of the crisis and tasked with carving its lessons into law understood the imperative to expand the CFTC’s authority beyond futures to additional types of derivatives. The Dodd-Frank Act that rewrote Wall Street rules addressed the damage wrought by these unregulated derivatives by extending the CFTC’s exclusive control over them. That increased preemption is now coupled with another Dodd-Frank Act provision directly covering trading on prediction markets. Indeed, it spells out that such trading is allowed on markets licensed and regulated under the CFTC’s exclusive jurisdiction over futures and other derivatives, unless the agency proactively finds a contract is 'contrary to the public interest,' such as speculation related to terrorism or assassination.

"This debate may seem like a trivial regulatory turf war over a startup industry. But we have learned the hard way what happens when the CFTC is absent from these markets. The agency guarantees the smooth functioning of derivatives, a vast marketplace that underpins the global economy. Allowing states to start chipping away at its power would sow investor doubt, potentially unraveling U.S. primacy in the marketplace and sparking capital flight from our commodities markets. The market disruption that would follow is a summer sequel nobody wants to see. ..."

The business of competition in sports is exploding beyond athletes, with most Americans now enjoying a range of options from gambling sites like

America’s Outdoor Future Needs a Bold New Funding Model by Lori McCullough."For generations, the American promise of out...
09/11/2025

America’s Outdoor Future Needs a Bold New Funding Model by Lori McCullough.

"For generations, the American promise of outdoor access — to hike, hunt, fish, camp, and explore our public lands and waters — has been woven into our national identity. But that promise is under threat. Traditional conservation and recreation funding is shrinking at every level of government, public land infrastructure is aging, and too many communities are losing access to the outdoor experiences that make this country special.

"Public agencies are doing their best to adapt. They’re shifting management strategies to keep pace with soaring demand. But the simple truth is this: resources to supply quality outdoor recreation are woefully inadequate — and the result is a slow deterioration of our public lands, our waters, and ultimately, access itself.

"At The Great Outdoors Fund, we believe that safeguarding outdoor access requires a bold and practical solution — one that goes beyond politics, beyond bureaucracy, and toward partnership. That’s why we’ve pioneered a nonpartisan public-private funding model to fill in the gaps and move urgently needed recreation and restoration projects from idea to reality.

"The model is simple: Private investment. Public lands. Shared future.

"Across the country, we’re seeing the power of this approach. Local communities know what they need — whether it’s a new boat ramp, trail restoration, improved signage, or accessible fishing piers. But too often, the public funding needed to deliver these solutions is tied up in red tape, or simply doesn’t exist. The Great Outdoors Fund steps in to match public dollars with private contributions, build momentum through community engagement, and get projects done.

"These visible improvements do more than enhance the outdoor experience. They’re critical investments in our economy, our health, and our national identity. Outdoor recreation is a $1.2 trillion economic engine, supporting over 5 million jobs and sustaining rural communities from coast to coast. But it depends on access to healthy forests, clean rivers, and resilient infrastructure that can meet demand sustainably.

"When companies contribute to this effort, they become more than just sponsors — they become stewards. Their employees recreate on these lands. Their customers depend on them. And their brands are seen as partners in something far more enduring than a product line: the protection of America’s natural heritage. ..."

For generations, the American promise of outdoor access — to hike, hunt, fish, camp, and explore our public lands and waters — has been woven into our

Time To Give the Adams Family Their Due by Fred Lucas."John Adams is a giant among American Founders, yet something is m...
09/10/2025

Time To Give the Adams Family Their Due by Fred Lucas.

"John Adams is a giant among American Founders, yet something is missing: a memorial in the nation’s capital.

"That could be changing, not just for the second president of the United States but for the entire Adams family.

"There is bipartisan support in Congress to provide up to $50 million, to be backed by private matching funds, for a memorial to be completed by 2032.

"So why did it take this long for an Adams memorial?

"'John Adams was caught between two enormous figures,' said Jackie Gingrich Cushman, president of the Adams Memorial Foundation.

"He was overshadowed by his predecessor, George Washington, and lost an election to Thomas Jefferson.

"Then there was the sixth president of the United States.

"Cushman called John Quincy Adams 'among the most overlooked' statesmen in American history.

"The daughter of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Cushman said, 'The memorial will reflect that America is so strong because of families.'

"Cushman testified before the House Natural Resources Committee in July, advocating for the project and the enabling legislation, the 'Great American Heroes Act,' introduced by Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.).

"This tribute would include a library in a garden and honor not just two presidents but other family members, including the profoundly influential Abigail and later generations like Charles and Henry. ..."

John Adams is a giant among American Founders, yet something is missing: a memorial in the nation’s capital. That could be changing, not just for the

To Save Our Churches, Pass the Dignity Act Instead of Funding Deportations by Rev. Dr. Walter Kim."Congress has passed a...
09/10/2025

To Save Our Churches, Pass the Dignity Act Instead of Funding Deportations by Rev. Dr. Walter Kim.

"Congress has passed a 'big, beautiful' budget reconciliation bill that supercharges immigrant detention and deportation funding. Many are concerned with how the bill could increase deficits, but few seem to realize how it could lead to a decline in American Christianity unless Congress follows up with a Republican-led effort to finally fix our dysfunctional immigration system.

"President Donald Trump has acknowledged the impact of immigration enforcement on particular sectors of the U.S. economy, and indeed, the costs to American consumers of removing workers from the economy could be significant, raising prices by $2,150 annually for a typical American family. But American churches are also profoundly impacted, as recent headlines demonstrate.

"In Los Angeles, an anguished pastor begs masked immigration officials not to detain and deport his congregants back to Iran. A Venezuelan pastor self-deports from Texas to comply with the Trump administration’s termination of his Temporary Protected Status. Another evangelical pastor was deported and separated from his five U.S. citizen children after decades in Florida. In North Carolina, an Anglican church pleads for the Afghan Christians among its membership, who fear murderous retribution if the administration follows through on deportation threats.

"Those stories were possible with $3.4 billion allocated for detention. Only seven percent of those detained have been convicted of violent crimes. The new detention budget is $45 billion. 'You think we’re arresting people now?' asked the president’s border czar prior to the reconciliation bill’s passage. 'Wait till we get the funding.' They now have it.

"But if the administration proceeds with its stated policy to remove all immigrants residing without legal status in the United States – and if it continues to remove legal protections and pursue deportation for many allowed in lawfully – it will profoundly impact American Christianity. A recent report from the National Association of Evangelicals, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, and World Relief estimates that 10 million Christians are at risk of deportation.

"The impacts stretch well beyond those 10 million Christians, however, as many U.S. citizens live with family members who could face deportation. One in 12 Christians in the United States is either themselves at risk of deportation or shares a household with someone else who is. ..."

Congress has passed a “big, beautiful” budget reconciliation bill that supercharges immigrant detention and deportation funding. Many are concerned with

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