Derek Thompson

This looks to me like a regime of scarcity. Now, of course, Republicans will disagree. They'll argue that in the long run, their politics is designed to solve America's problems. We can already see many ways in which the problems that got Donald Trump elected in the first place are being exacerbated by his first policies. Take, for example, affordability and housing.

This looks to me like a regime of scarcity. Now, of course, Republicans will disagree. They'll argue that in the long run, their politics is designed to solve America's problems. We can already see many ways in which the problems that got Donald Trump elected in the first place are being exacerbated by his first policies. Take, for example, affordability and housing.

This looks to me like a regime of scarcity. Now, of course, Republicans will disagree. They'll argue that in the long run, their politics is designed to solve America's problems. We can already see many ways in which the problems that got Donald Trump elected in the first place are being exacerbated by his first policies. Take, for example, affordability and housing.

Housing costs are too high in this country, obviously. And home construction has lagged for decades. The problem is particularly bad for young people who shifted significantly toward the Republican side in 2024. The median age of first-time homebuyers in America recently surged to an all-time high. And delays in homebuying are having a ripple effect.

Housing costs are too high in this country, obviously. And home construction has lagged for decades. The problem is particularly bad for young people who shifted significantly toward the Republican side in 2024. The median age of first-time homebuyers in America recently surged to an all-time high. And delays in homebuying are having a ripple effect.

Housing costs are too high in this country, obviously. And home construction has lagged for decades. The problem is particularly bad for young people who shifted significantly toward the Republican side in 2024. The median age of first-time homebuyers in America recently surged to an all-time high. And delays in homebuying are having a ripple effect.

They're playing a part in the decline of dating and marrying and starting a family. What do Trump's tariffs do to help this situation? Well, don't ask me. Ask the National Association of Home Builders.

They're playing a part in the decline of dating and marrying and starting a family. What do Trump's tariffs do to help this situation? Well, don't ask me. Ask the National Association of Home Builders.

They're playing a part in the decline of dating and marrying and starting a family. What do Trump's tariffs do to help this situation? Well, don't ask me. Ask the National Association of Home Builders.

Because in a March 7 memo, they pointed out that Trump's tariffs on Mexico and Canada threatened to drive up the cost of two of the most important materials for building a house, soft lumber, which we import from Canada, and drywall materials, which we source from Mexico. An America that has to source all of its own wood and drywall is not a richer country than the one we have today.

Because in a March 7 memo, they pointed out that Trump's tariffs on Mexico and Canada threatened to drive up the cost of two of the most important materials for building a house, soft lumber, which we import from Canada, and drywall materials, which we source from Mexico. An America that has to source all of its own wood and drywall is not a richer country than the one we have today.

Because in a March 7 memo, they pointed out that Trump's tariffs on Mexico and Canada threatened to drive up the cost of two of the most important materials for building a house, soft lumber, which we import from Canada, and drywall materials, which we source from Mexico. An America that has to source all of its own wood and drywall is not a richer country than the one we have today.

It's a poorer country where American homebuyers have to pay the price for pointless protectionism. Now, here is where Democrats should be able to stand up and show that they have a winning response to the politics of scarcity. But they don't. In many places run by Democrats, what they're offering instead is just another kind of scarcity.

It's a poorer country where American homebuyers have to pay the price for pointless protectionism. Now, here is where Democrats should be able to stand up and show that they have a winning response to the politics of scarcity. But they don't. In many places run by Democrats, what they're offering instead is just another kind of scarcity.

It's a poorer country where American homebuyers have to pay the price for pointless protectionism. Now, here is where Democrats should be able to stand up and show that they have a winning response to the politics of scarcity. But they don't. In many places run by Democrats, what they're offering instead is just another kind of scarcity.

Many cities run by Democratic leaders are laden with rules and litigation norms that block new housing, new transit, new energy. As my Atlantic colleague Yoni Applebaum told us on a recent show, in California cities where the share of progressive votes goes up by 10 points, the share of housing permits issued declines by 30%. Where the supply of homes is constricted, housing prices soar.

Many cities run by Democratic leaders are laden with rules and litigation norms that block new housing, new transit, new energy. As my Atlantic colleague Yoni Applebaum told us on a recent show, in California cities where the share of progressive votes goes up by 10 points, the share of housing permits issued declines by 30%. Where the supply of homes is constricted, housing prices soar.

Many cities run by Democratic leaders are laden with rules and litigation norms that block new housing, new transit, new energy. As my Atlantic colleague Yoni Applebaum told us on a recent show, in California cities where the share of progressive votes goes up by 10 points, the share of housing permits issued declines by 30%. Where the supply of homes is constricted, housing prices soar.

And where the availability of homes is constricted, homelessness rises. As of 2023, the five states with the highest rates of homelessness are New York, Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Washington. They're all run by Democrats. If Trump's opponents are going to win at the polls, they will need to build a new kind of political movement.

And where the availability of homes is constricted, homelessness rises. As of 2023, the five states with the highest rates of homelessness are New York, Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Washington. They're all run by Democrats. If Trump's opponents are going to win at the polls, they will need to build a new kind of political movement.