Politics & Markets

In my opinion, the border and the US labor force are paramount political issues in 2024. The Biden administration has been viewed by many as weak and indecisive, and recurring border failures appear on the nightly news without respite. That is one side of the border-issues divide.

On the other side we witness Trump attacking immigrants using intensely negative rhetoric. His attacks are fueled by his former staff writer Stephen Miller.

Meanwhile, in the Senate and among many in the House, there is a bipartisan middle that is trying to get to workable solutions. These folks are trying to find a way to make the system work.

Will a moderate or centrist compromise unfold? Can bipartisan agreements be reached in this heated election year where the two presidential front runners are an octogenarian and a soon-to-be octogenarian, dueling with each other in a repeat national election when a very large portion of the voters are seeking other choices? Will the polarizing extremes, whether the alt-left “Squad” or the alt-right “Chaos Caucus,” end up setting policy for the entire country?

I believe there are two huge issues that will dominate the election cycle as it unfolds. The first is national defense, about which I have written many times. The other issue is the border, immigration, and labor policies. Right now, the outlook on both fronts is problematic and unpredictable. Right now, financial markets seem to ignore outcomes because they are so uncertain. Houthi attacks have had minor market effects other than shipping costs.

One thing seems clear to me. The outcome of this debate over national defense and the border will impact the United States for years to come.

Meanwhile, the viciousness of the 2024 campaign and the hater rhetoric are poisonous to the entire system. We’re worried. And we are not alone.

As a resource, we recommend the podcast interview of Frank Luntz conducted by Ed D’Agostino of Mauldin Economics. The discussion is profound and alarming and specifically deals with the 2024 election cycle and what is at risk. I recommend you take 20 minutes for the podcast, and I thank Ed for permission to share it with our readers.

“Avoiding a Biden-Trump Rematch: Luntz on the Third-Party Game Changer,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChfJcd56mWs
 

Dr. Luntz shares invaluable insights on the 2024 election with Mauldin Economics Publisher Ed D’Agostino.