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Connecting today’s news with the research & opinion you need.

We Were Told There Would Be Warming… And Snacks

What to Know: New data from says there has been no warming in the United States since at least 2005, according to updated data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The TPPF Take: Don’t expect the Democratic presidential candidates to let data get in the way of their narrative of impending doom.

“The actual numbers—in this case temperature data data from the NOAA--invalidate the apocalyptic climate change narrative, so alarmists have no other choice than to resort to fear tactics and move up the countdown clock,” said TPPF’s Jason Isaac. “Despite the hysterical headlines, the data simply doesn’t justify strangling our economy and quality of life with any version of the Green New Deal.”

Not Surprising

What to Know: California’s housing shortage—now at crisis levels—is largely due to land use and zoning ordinances, a new study finds.

The TPPF Take: These same factors are at work in Austin, which is facing its own housing shortage.

“A 2016 comparison of city fees to build an apartment complex found that Austin’s fees can be eight (or more) times higher than similar fees in Dallas,” says TPPF’s Ellen Troxclair. “This means the difference between handing over $100,000 and $800,000 before spending a dollar on labor or materials. Cities should instead lower taxes, fees and land-use regulations to enable builders to meet the obvious need for more affordable housing.”

No Child Left Behind, Except the Smart Ones

What to Know: One proposed fix for New York City’s school system—deemed insufficiently desegregated—is to eliminate all gifted and talented programs.

The TPPF Take: NYC should learn a lesson from Texas, and offer parents more choices, not fewer.

“In San Antonio, for example, leaders faced an economically segregated district, declining enrollment, and even the need to shutter schools,” says TPPF’s Emily Sass. “Instead, the district redesigned its educational system by offering popular programs such as dual language or Montessori at different campuses. It’s creating more high-quality options (not fewer), allowing parents to choose which school best meets their children’s needs, and it’s enticing more affluent families into to the district.”Â