Glenn Patterson

NEW: Trump told aides he’s willing to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, administration officials said, likely extending Tehran’s firm grip on the waterway and leaving a complex operation to reopen it for a later date.

Amen. More GOP reps need to start saying this.

Austin, TX from the same spot 10 years apart (2014 vs 2024) Pretty stunning transformation.

The Home Builders Assoc just came out against a significant housing bill progressing through Congress and they have a good point. Both Trump and progressive Dems want restrictions on institutional ownership of houses. Most wonks are skeptical of the policy but it polls very well, so some version will make it in. In a previous version, there was a carve out for institutions that build new housing for the rental market. The restrictions would only apply to institutions buying existing houses and taking them off the market (or more precisely, moving them from for-sale to for-rent). In a bipartisan bill released last night, institutions that build new houses to rent would have to dispose of them within 7 years. This makes no sense. We need more housing of all types, both rental and for sale. Restricting what new capital can do with homes it builds will result in less housing, undermining the bill’s purpose. Trump’s January exec order exempted those who build new homes from ownership restrictions, recognizing that new construction in any form helps address the housing shortage. The home builders are right that this bill should follow the same approach.