Julia Cataneo

Maplewood

Research and Editorial Assistant at American Enterprise Institute

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Articles

Is Stefan Zweig Our Writer for Our Times

1 week ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

There are select writers of historical importance routinely referenced in contemporary political discussion. Think here of George Orwell on totalitarianism and the myopia of the Left; Carl von Clausewitz on the relation between politics and war; Fredrick Hayek on the errors of socialism. But the best observer for the Trump era may be the Vienna-born writer Stefan Zweig.
Structural Changes Needed in State and Local Government Employee Retirement Plans

1 week ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

Although most think Social Security is a universal program covering all workers in the United States, a small but significant share of the workforce is exempt from its payroll taxes. About one-quarter of state and local government employees—primarily teachers, along with some police officers, firefighters, and general government workers—do not participate in the program. This patchwork of coverage stems from historical decisions made decades ago and varies considerably by location.
Reimagining Federal Education R&D: Let’s Fix the What Works Clearinghouse

1 week ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

Introduced in 2002 as part of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) was one of the best ideas in federal education policy—and one of its worst executions in recent memory. Conceived as a digital library of high-quality research designed to help educators navigate the chaotic landscape of education R&D, the WWC has become a symbol of bureaucratic paralysis disguised as scientific rigor.
Thinking About Pro-growth Policy and Federal Budget Deficits

1 week ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

For the first time since the mid-1990s, there’s plausible reason to think the American economy could experience a sustained acceleration. Yes, it’s an AI story.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee: An American Institution

1 week ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

On June 17, 1925, 11-year-old Frank Neuhauser of Louisville found himself in Washington, DC, where he spelled the word “gladiolus” correctly and was named the winner of the first national spelling bee. One hundred years later, nearly 250 of the best young spellers are gathered this week in Maryland, just outside the nation’s capital, for the 2025 event, which the E.W. Scripps company has sponsored since 1941.
Canada’s Liberals: The Most Resilient Establishment Party in the Western World

1 week ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

In a recent post, I outlined some leading explanations as to why Canada’s Liberal Party recently managed to pull off one of the most dramatic electoral turnarounds in the history of the Great White North, even during an age of insurgent conservative populism on both sides of the Atlantic.
Americorps: Mend It, Don’t End It

1 week ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

Congressional pushback has rightly begun against the little-noticed but significant Trump White House precipitous cut in the budget of the Corporation for National Service, which funds the Americorps program. In mid-April, the White House terminated 750 members of the national service program, which provides support for paid “volunteers” who receive a modest stipend to work at a non-profit organization deemed qualified.
Community Without Cell Phones

1 week ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

The State of New York, following in the footsteps of many other states, is banning smartphones in K-12 schools. Doing so may improve social capital and community around the state. New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced a “bell-to-bell” ban, which prevents “unsanctioned use” of digital devices during class, lunch, and other parts of the school day.
The Supreme Court’s Tentative Decision on the Independence of the NLRB and the MSPB Could Be Challenged

2 weeks ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

The Supreme Court’s decision yesterday, pending a full hearing next term, was foreshadowed in a 2000 case, called Seila Law v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).This agency was headed by a single director who was appointed for a fixed term of office, and under the then-prevailing rules could not be removed by the President except for malfeasance.
Congress Should Not Impose Capital Controls

2 weeks ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

The House-passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBB) would make numerous changes to the tax code. One of them stands out as particularly harmful. The House version of the OBBB introduces a 3.5 percent excise tax on remittances. Under this tax, all individuals who transfer money overseas would be subject to this tax except for US citizens and nationals.