A recent National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) survey reveals declining small business optimism amid economic uncertainty and evolving tariff policies. The NFIB optimism index dropped 1.6 points to 95.8 in April, below the 51-year average of 98. President Trump’s tariff measures triggered market downturns, though many tariffs were paused for renegotiations. Trump aims to boost domestic manufacturing, with some companies investing significantly; however, benefits will take years, while tariff impacts are immediate. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg highlighted that uncertainty hampers small business operations, affecting hiring and investment plans, despite ongoing efforts to fill job openings.
(The Center Square) – Newly released survey data shows that small businesses are less optimistic about the economy amid market turmoil and ongoing uncertainty because of quickly evolving tariff policy.
The National Federation of Independent Businesses released its survey of small business owners this week, which found that NFIB’s small business optimism index declined by 1.6 points in April to 95.8, “the second consecutive month below the 51-year average of 98.”
President Donald Trump unveiled his tariff policies earlier this year which set off a market downturn. Trump then paused most of his tariffs to negotiate individual trade deals with other nations, countries that Trump says have ripped off the U.S. for years by tariffing American products.
Trump has promised a revival in domestic manufacturing as the reward for the pain of tariffs, and significant investment has already been announced by some companies. However, the payoff from those investments will take years while the pain from tariffs is immediate.
Those conditions have created uncertainty for small businesses.
“Uncertainty continues to be a major impediment for small business owners in operating their business in April, affecting everything from hiring plans to investment decisions,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “While owners are still trying to fill a high number of current job openings, their outlook on business conditions is less supportive of future business investments.”
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article primarily reports on the findings of a National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) survey, presenting factual data on small business optimism and economic uncertainty, especially due to tariffs. It does not promote a specific ideological stance but rather describes the challenges faced by small businesses amidst evolving tariff policies. The mention of former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and their effects on the market is framed neutrally, detailing both the immediate pain caused by tariffs and the long-term investment potential, without indicating a clear political or ideological bias. The tone remains focused on reporting economic trends and business sentiment.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Dave Mason | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-08-18 18:30:00
In Sacramento, Democrats and Republicans clashed over California’s congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 mid-terms. Democrats, accusing former President Trump and California Republicans of undermining democracy by enabling Texas’ redistricting, proposed a new temporary California map for voter approval in a November special election. The plan includes a constitutional amendment and funding measures, pending legislative and voter approval, sparking Republican warnings of costly waste and lack of transparency. Republicans defended the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and criticized Democrats for ignoring voter-approved processes. Both sides vowed to fight in the Capitol, courts, and at the ballot box, reflecting deep partisan tensions over electoral fairness.
(The Center Square) – Emotions ran high Monday as Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento accused each other of sabotaging democracy before the 2026 mid-term congressional elections.
The parties’ press conferences began late morning with the Democrats representing California in the Legislature and Congress. They told a room packed with reporters at the state Capitol that they’re fighting back against Texas’ plans for congressional redistricting with their Golden State map.
The Democrats accused President Donald Trump of election rigging and the Republicans in the California Legislature of silently letting him get away with it. The Democrats, though, did not mention U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley’s bill that would ban Texas, California or any other state from drawing new congressional district lines before the 2030 census. Kiley is a California Republican whose district spans most of the state’s border with Nevada. Republican legislators mentioned Kiley’s bill during recent Center Square interviews. Kiley introduced the bill earlier this month.
Less than an hour after the Democrats spoke, Republicans held their own press conference at the Capitol. They accused the Democrats of ignoring voters, who passed a constitutional amendment in 2010 to create an independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.
Democrats stressed that their measure, affecting the 2026, 2028 and 2030 congressional elections, was temporary and that voters would see the new California congressional map and have the final say in the Nov. 4 special election. They said the independent commission would still do its work after the 2030 census.
Monday’s press conferences marked the start of a week of political drama that is expected to end with floor votes Thursday in the Assembly and Senate on a legislative package, according to the Assembly speaker’s website, speaker.asmdc.org. The package will include a constitutional amendment allowing for replacement of the current congressional map.
The amendment requires a two-thirds vote in the Legislature, where Democrats hold a supermajority in both houses. If passed, the amendment then would have to be approved by voters in a Nov. 4 special election that Assembly Republicans are warning will cost taxpayers $235 million.
Another component is a statute to establish and fund the special election.
The entire legislative package will be discussed during hearings Tuesday in the elections committees in the Assembly and Senate.
That surprised the ranking Republican on the Assembly committee, Vice Chair Alexandra Macedo, who told reporters at the Capitol that she didn’t learn about the committee meeting until a text message at 8 a.m. Monday. She said that barely gives her 24 hours to prepare for a hearing on legislation co-authored entirely by Democrats.
“Let me warn anyone testifying tomorrow. If you don’t answer my questions, attorneys will make sure you answer them in a courtroom,” Macedo said angrily. “You can run, but you cannot hide.
“You’re disenfranchising California. We will fight back,” Macedo said. “If not here in the Capitol, it will be in the courtroom or at the ballot box.”
Earlier on Monday, a couple dozen or so Democratic lawmakers gathered on a press conference stage as some of them told reporters they were fighting back against what they called Trump’s attempts to cheat during an election.
“I firmly believe our democracy is on life support,” Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire said. “The 2026 midterm elections are our best chance to stop the bleeding.”
McGuire noted the ballot proposal is being written so that the California redistricting will not happen if Texas and other states decide against redistricting.
California President pro tempore Mike McGuire on map discussion
Courtesy of the California Senate Democrats
“We will not allow Republicans to determine the outcome of a future election years in advance, before a single vote is cast,” said Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, chair of the California Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments.
“If we let Donald Trump get away with rigging elections through partisan gerrymandering, we will not have free and fair elections in the United States in the future,” Cervantes warned. “If Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans pursue this partisanship power grab, California is ready to respond.”
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said he is proud to stand behind the California map.
“I’m not happy to be here. We did not choose this fight. We don’t want this fight,” said Assemblymember Marc Berman, a former chair of the Assembly Elections Committee.
But California can’t sit back and do nothing if Texas tries to gain five more congressional seats for Republicans through gerrymandering, Berman said.
“I’m a new dad. My son was born 30 days ago,” Berman said. “I know there will be times through my son’s life that I will have to say ‘no.’ If I don’t, my son will grow up to be petulant and entitled like Donald Trump, who said out loud that he is entitled to five more Republican districts in Texas.
“Instead of telling Trump no, Republicans predictably began tripping over themselves to give Trump what he demanded,” Berman said.
Less than an hour after Berman spoke, state Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, compared Newsom to a child with the governor’s view that Texas’ attempt to redistrict is justification for California to do the same. “Johnny, my friend did it. So I should be able to do it.”
“Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was going to save democracy,” said Strickland, who previously told The Center Square that neither Texas nor California should do mid-decade redistricting. “He’s going to save democracy by having no more democratic elections in California.”
Instead of drawing up new congressional districts, Newsom should be promoting the fact that California has the gold standard with its independent, nonpartisan Citizens Redistricting Commission, Strickland said.
Democratic leaders stressed that their proposed map reflects the hundreds of hours of public testimony during the commission’s hearings after the 2020 census. They added that districts were drawn in ways to avoid splitting cities and counties.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
This article primarily reports on the political conflict in California regarding redistricting efforts, presenting statements and actions from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. The article covers accusations and counter-accusations from both sides without employing language that overtly favors one party or ideology. It includes direct quotes from representatives of each party, highlights their arguments, and notes procedural details such as upcoming votes and hearings. The tone remains factual and descriptive, focusing on portraying the political dynamics rather than promoting any partisan viewpoint. Therefore, it adheres to neutral, factual reporting by presenting each side’s perspective on the issue rather than advancing a distinct ideological stance.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-08-18 15:01:00
A coal train derailment near Enfield, northeastern North Carolina, has disrupted rail services on key routes to Chicago, Miami, and New York. The CSX train, carrying 28 loaded coal cars, derailed on Sunday, leading to cancellations of several Amtrak services including the Floridian, Silver Meteor, Auto Train, Carolinian, and Palmetto. No injuries or environmental damage have been reported, and the cause of the derailment is still unknown. The affected crossing, which handles over two dozen trains daily, is vital for regional rail traffic.
(The Center Square) – Passenger train service involving routes to Chicago, Miami and New York is on hold because of a coal train derailment in northeastern North Carolina on Sunday.
The CSX train pulling 28 loaded cars of coal went off the tracks just outside of Enfield, a small community of about 1,800 not far from Rocky Mount. Freight service is also impacted.
No injuries or environmental concerns have been reported. The cause of the crash has not been given.
According to Amtrak Alerts and Amtrack Northeast, the Floridian scheduled to depart Chicago on Sunday was canceled. The Floridian scheduled to leave Miami on Monday was also canceled.
Other cancellations included the Silver Meteor out of New York and the Auto Train out of Sanford, Fla.; the Carolinian, in both directions, between New York and Raleigh; and the Palmetto, in both directions, between Washington and Savannah, Ga.
More than two dozen trains per day use the crossing where the derailment happened, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article presents a straightforward report on a train derailment incident without expressing any ideological stance or opinion. It focuses on factual information such as the location, impact on passenger and freight services, and the status of train cancellations. The language is neutral and objective, merely conveying the events and their consequences without framing them in a politically charged manner. This adherence to factual reporting without promoting a particular viewpoint indicates a centrist, unbiased approach.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-08-18 14:23:00
A Tax Foundation report estimates Mississippi residents will save an average of $2,400 in tax cuts due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4. The law, the most significant federal tax change since 2017, makes permanent individual tax changes, expands child tax credits, and enhances deductions. Job growth of over 4,800 is forecasted long-term. County savings vary, with Madison County seeing the highest average cut at $4,583 and Jefferson County the lowest at $1,212. Mississippi’s average tax cut is below the national average of $3,752, decreasing slightly from 2026 to 2029.
(The Center Square) – An estimated $2,400 in tax cut savings is projected on average for Mississippi residents, a report from The Tax Foundation says.
Long range, more than 4,800 jobs are forecast to be added in the state as well, says the international nonprofit research organization publishing studies on American tax policies. The report was done in response to the July 4 signing of House Resolution 1, known also as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
County by county, the figures vary.
For the state, the average decreases slightly from $2,400 in 2026 to $2,334 in 2027, $2,315 in 2028, and $1,835 in 2029.
No state has a smaller amount in 2026. The average nationally is $3,752, said The Tax Foundation report.
The new law is said to be the most significant changes to federal tax policy since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The law championed by second-term Republican President Donald Trump makes permanent individual tax changes from 2017. It also has deductions for tipped and overtime income, expanded child tax credit and standard deductions, and makes permanent 100% bonus depreciation and domestic research and development expensing.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article primarily reports on the tax cut effects of a recently signed federal law using data from The Tax Foundation, an external research organization. It neutrally presents estimated savings for Mississippi residents, projected job growth, and county-by-county variances without using charged or evaluative language that promotes a specific political viewpoint. The mention of the law being “championed by…President Donald Trump” is factual, not laudatory or critical, and the details about the law’s provisions are descriptive. Overall, the tone and framing adhere to neutral, factual reporting by focusing on the outcomes and data associated with the legislation rather than advocating for or against it, thereby not contributing a discernible ideological bias itself.
