Biden's ambitious plans for Supreme Court reform ignite debate over their feasibility and public support. The struggle for affordable housing emerges as a crucial political issue, prompting calls for reform to assist aspiring homeowners. Meanwhile, Russian paramilitaries face setbacks in Africa, raising concerns about their influence amid ongoing conflicts. Further complicating the landscape, the assassination of Hamas leaders could have significant implications for U.S. policy and regional stability, underscoring the need for proactive international response.
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Quick takeaways
Biden's proposed Supreme Court reforms appear more symbolic and politically motivated than feasible solutions to substantive governance challenges.
The housing affordability crisis reveals a failure of political action, leaving many renters feeling hopeless despite historically lower mortgage rates.
Deep dives
Biden's Proposed Reforms to the Supreme Court
President Biden has called for a constitutional amendment to overturn a recent Supreme Court decision granting former presidents immunity for crimes committed while in office, while also endorsing mandatory ethics codes and 18-year term limits for justices. However, there is skepticism about the feasibility of these proposals, as drafting a clear amendment or passing term limits poses significant constitutional challenges. The conversation highlights that Biden's measures seem largely aimed at rallying the Democratic base in light of historically low court approval ratings, particularly among Democrats, rather than driving substantial legislative change. Overall, the proposals reflect ongoing partisan struggles around the Supreme Court and seem more symbolic in nature, drawing attention to broader electoral strategies than offering realistic governance solutions.
The Homeownership Affordability Crisis
A recent poll reveals that 86% of renters in the United States aspire to purchase a home but feel it is unaffordable, with 54% believing they may never achieve that goal. This crisis is exacerbated by rising home prices and elevated mortgage rates, with younger renters aged under 45 feeling particularly squeezed. Interestingly, despite the elevated mortgage rates, they remain historically lower than rates seen in previous decades, suggesting that other factors contribute to the affordability crisis. The need for targeted actions, such as land use deregulation and creating favorable conditions for homeownership, has not been prioritized by either political party, despite the acknowledged importance of owning a home for wealth accumulation and family stability.
Increased Russian Casualties in Mali and Global Implications
A viral video depicting Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group among casualties in Northern Mali underscores growing tensions in the region and the challenges faced by Russian influence in Africa. Reports indicate that as many as 80 Russians may have died in an attack accompanying Malian government troops, marking a significant blow to Russia’s efforts to project military power in a foreign land. This incident raises questions about how the Kremlin balances its international engagements, particularly amid ongoing challenges in Ukraine, and how such losses impact Russia's broader strategic aspirations. The situation embodies the volatility of Wagner's operations in Africa, where their presence often contributes to instability, while also highlighting the need for an assertive response from the U.S. and its allies to counteract Russian expansion.
This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Biden’s plan to remake the Supreme Court, why housing is the most important political issue in America, Russian paramilitaries getting hammered in Africa, and how Israel’s assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah top dogs could change the region and U.S. policy.
Each week on What Really Matters, Walter Russell Mead and Jeremy Stern help you understand the news, decide what matters and what doesn’t, and enjoy following the story of America and the world more than you do now. For more, check out tabletmag.com/what-really-matters. You can read Walter Russell Mead’s Tablet column here, and check out more from Tablet here.
