The Navigator, Saturday, May 31, 2025

Green fee for tourists, immigration and California's economy, growing opinion at the New York Times—and more

Illustration by New Rules Media

Earlier this week, in the Oval Office, a reporter asked President Trump what he thought of Wall Street insiders referring to his trade policy as “TACO,” which stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” It references a very familiar pattern for the president: fire off a tariff threat, rattle the markets, then quietly walk it back. The result? Chaos in the headlines, market volatility, and—for savvy investors—a “buy the dip” opportunity when the bark proves louder than the bite.

But behind the satire and memefication of this exchange is something more serious. These episodic threats, often aimed at historic allies like Canada and the EU, destabilize. They create business uncertainty, strain diplomatic relations, and undermine trust in long-term U.S. trade policy.

Some call it economic bullying. Others call it showmanship. And the president’s allies? They call it a shrewd strategy. Regardless of your perspective, the TACO effect is important to understanding our politics today: policy is seemingly increasingly governed by vibes and communicated in haste via social media without considering the cascading implications.

That’s bad news for companies trying to plan for the future and communities trying to build resilient local economies in a rapidly shifting world.

At New Rules Media, we’re not just watching the trends. We’re helping you prepare for what’s next. And when even markets start pricing in presidential indecision, it’s worth paying attention.

How are you navigating the uncertainty of Trump’s tariffs? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Hawaii becomes first US state to charge 'Green Fee' on tourists (USA Today)

Hawaii became the first U.S. state to establish a climate impact fee on Tuesday, placing an additional tax on tourists to fund climate change resiliency projects and environmental stewardship within the islands.

Harvard to relinquish photos of enslaved people to resolve descendant's lawsuit (Reuters)

Harvard University has agreed to give up ownership of photos of an enslaved father and his daughter who were forced to be photographed in 1850 for a racist study by a professor trying to prove the inferiority of Black people to resolve a lawsuit by one of their descendants.

Immigration Is the Only Thing Propping Up California’s Population (The Wall Street Journal)

A job market without enough ‘homegrown’ engineers drives an influx of workers to the U.S.—and helps offset the residents who are leaving

The Opinion That Ate the Paper (New York Magazine)

Under Kathleen Kingsbury, the Times’ “Opinion” section has doubled in size. What kind of publication is she building?

Crypto Is About to Cause the Next Great American Financial Crisis (Slate)

Banking collapses in 2023 almost triggered disaster—but the real crisis might be caused by what happened after.

‘It’s pretty bleak’: A warming planet is poised to get even hotter, forecasters warn (The Los Angeles Times)

Get ready for more fires, more droughts and more hurricanes.

Eight Charts Show Men Are Falling Behind, From Classrooms to Careers (Bloomberg)

The data on how men and boys have fallen behind and on the work opportunities they’re missing.

The deceptively simple reform that could unlock more housing (Vox)

Do we need apartment buildings to have two staircases?

The Silent Collapse of Rural America—And Why It Affects You (Population Next)

How do we sustain our food supply when people, the very foundation of agriculture, are disappearing?

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