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

Thanks, Texas!

What to Know: A Dallas Morning News editorial points out that attacks on the Saudi oil industry didn’t spark a worldwide crisis—thanks to Texas petroleum supplies.

The TPPF Take: Texas’ unprecedented boom in oil and gas production is the result of technological advancements like fracking—and good ol’ American determination.

“For all the talk of a Green New Deal and renewable energy, the world still runs on fossil fuels, and Texas is now a leader in the safe and responsible production of those fuels,” says TPPF’s Brent Bennett. “Thanks to innovations born right here in Texas, the United States has a more diversified, abundant and reliable energy system that is more resilient to global energy supply shocks.”

Is It Constitutional?

What to Know: There’s never been a better time to re-familiarize ourselves with the U.S. Constitution—as challenges to it spring up all around.

The TPPF Take: Civic illiteracy is reaching disturbing levels.

“National polling consistently shows that Americans, even college graduates, are growing increasingly civically illiterate,” says TPPF’s Tom Lindsay. “But don’t blame students. Far from it. They study what they are tested on. Unfortunately, U.S. Department of Education statistics testify that, today, only one in three college students graduates having taken even one course in American Government. This must change.”

Trade Talks

What to Know: China and the U.S. will resume trade talks on Thursday.

The TPPF Take: So far, President Trump’s tariffs have had little impact on consumer prices.

“We’ve all seen the highly publicized claims that U.S. tariffs on goods from the China would drive higher inflation,” says TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “But the numbers say otherwise. Consumer commodities excluding food and energy—exactly those things we import from China—were up only 0.8% over the year, less than half the overall inflation rate.”