1912 Institute

Read more here: 1912.substack.com/p/sun-belt-ris…

New from the @1912Institute: Not enough attention has been paid to the Sun Belt. Our national consciousness remains mired in nostalgia and continues to under-index the incredibly bright trajectory of states like Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. @JPittsAZ

Our contemporary politics is coming to be shaped by two certifiably American worldviews. Rust Belters have experienced American decline firsthand. They grew up in towns with hollowed out factories, declining populations, and a general air of pessimism. Every day, they are reminded of what was—they mourn a world lost. Their grievances are not without basis. Sun Belters grew up in places built yesterday: new suburban developments, exurbs, and skyrises. Every day they are reminded of what can be—they anticipate a world to come. If they have grievances, they are with Rust Belters, who, to them, are mired in a past that can never be restored. These worldviews cut across party lines. Ezra Klein and Doug Ducey are both Sun Belters, preferencing growth and believing that decline can be averted by embracing innovation and the wave of the future. JD Vance and Bernie Sanders are both Rust Belters, seeing the world through the lens of scarcity and believing that decline can be averted by restoring the past, or at least elements thereof (higher rates of unionization, reshored manufacturing, etc.). (A brief aside: Sanders does not hail from a Rust Belt state. The Sun Belt and Rust Belt attitudes are regionally sourced but nationally distributed.) If the Sun Belt’s sunny trajectory continues apace—signs are good, but far from certain—Sun Belters will exercise an increasingly large role in our politics. Does this mean that Sun Belt policies will gain traction? Not necessarily. Sufficient backlash to streamlined regulation, improved state capacity, and elevated but perhaps inequitably distributed economic growth could put the Rust Belters back in the driver’s seat. The emerging dominant paradigm in our politics—Sun Belt vs. Rust Belt—cuts across party lines. It could be the fulcrum upon which 21st century American politics turns.

In a brief for the @1912Institute, I analyze the Sun Belt's growth trajectory. "Our national consciousness remains mired in nostalgia and continues to under-index the incredibly bright trajectory of states like Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Georgia, and Florida." 🧵

In 3 decades max, Phoenix will be recognized as a Great American City. A decidedly western city — with sprawl and all — but a great city nonetheless.

"Life does not come easy here; our droughts are enough to tell us that. But this danger—the risk of calamity—is precisely her appeal. Civilization was not built by those who cherished comfort or managed decline." My ode to the American West for @thedispatch's TheNext250 series:

"The West is a land of hope. Yes, a land of hopes dashed, expectations exceeding reality, booms and busts, all of that. But a land of hope nonetheless." --@JPittsAZ |TheNext250 thedispatch.com/next-250/wild-…

For all of our development, for all of our laudable innovations, . . . the spirit of the American West still pulses. The same old hopes that inspired our ancestors, and the same old challenges that sometimes brought them low, remain with us today. thedispatch.com/next-250/wild-…

Join some special guests and myself for networking, discussion, & information-sharing about a new @afsaalumni chapter for ASU alum, & about the state of the university today. Wednesday, Nov. 13, 3:30-4:30pm | Rooftop of the Canopy Hotel - Tempe, Arizona eventbrite.com/e/reinvigorati…

RUNNING ON EMPTY: Arizona faces challenges in energy and education as Western leaders push back on oil regulations and the teacher retention crisis deepens. Read more in the latest Round Up from @JCichoke43:

Read more in the latest Round Up from @JCichoke43: 1912wt.com/p/the-round-up…

BALLOT BONANZA: Arizona’s electoral procedures and school funding face intense scrutiny as national and state investigations heat up.

Read the full op-ed on 1912: 1912wt.com/p/arizona-educ…

NEW: Rep. @MatthewGress argues for more accountability of Arizona's education budget. This comes after several reports reveal instances of misuse of public dollars by school districts in the state.

Read more in the latest Round Up: 1912wt.com/p/the-round-up…

"These two stops—which both came just after each party ticket’s announcement—illustrate Arizona’s undeniable electoral significance in November." @JCichoke43 rounds up the latest Arizona news:

Read more in “Arizona’s Promethean Spirit” in 1912: 1912wt.com/p/arizonas-pro…

“Hoping against hope, our ancestors imagined a Phoenix that would not only outpace other American desert civilizations, but emerge as a great American city.” Senior columnist @JPittsAZ on Arizona’s promethean spirit:

From “October Surprise(s) in July” in 1912: 1912wt.com/p/the-round-up…

In the latest edition of the @Western_Tribune’s Round Up, analyst @JCichoke43 covers Arizona leaders’ response to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris’ rise to become the Democratic presidential nominee, and more. Read more⬇️