Staff Reports
A recently released memo from a nonprofit group called Mitre has made quite the splash, bringing attention to the complexities of space and its future opportunities. This memo goes by the catchy title “Making Space Vibrant and Resilient,” perhaps implying a cosmic makeover akin to one of those trendy home renovation shows. In a world where the U.S. space industry generates a staggering $211 billion and employs 360,000 Americans, one might think the Biden administration would roll up its sleeves and get to work. Instead, the government seems more interested in climate change and diversity seminars than in Washington’s strategic maneuvering among the stars.
The memo waxes poetic about the thriving U.S. commercial space sector that has successfully reduced launch costs, democratizing space travel for an array of new players. Yet, while everyone jumps on the space bandwagon, the memo warns about new players and technologies that are muddying the cosmic waters. Looks like the U.S. isn’t the only player in this high-stakes cosmic game; countries like Russia and China are developing counter-space weapons that could turn America’s satellite network into an exposed target, making the need for a resilient space strategy even more urgent.
𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗦 #𝟰 "𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲": The Mitchell Institute is hosting a Space Endurance Workshop to examine what will be required for the United States to maintain an enduring spacepower advantage during great power competition.#SpaceForce #USSF #Guardian pic.twitter.com/NQ9vaEOX2e
— Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies (@MitchellStudies) October 29, 2024
Meanwhile, as serious as space strategy might be, it hasn’t stopped former President Donald Trump from hitting the campaign trail hard. Trump recently hosted a rally in Atlanta and is set to move on to North Carolina and Pennsylvania, where he’ll surely discuss the toll that Kamala Harris and her Democratic pals are inflicting on the middle class. Reports indicate that inflation in North Carolina has become a significant concern, with half of the state’s residents pointing to rising costs as their top issue. Under Harris’s watch, families in North Carolina have allegedly lost nearly $28,000 just to keep pace with the skyrocketing cost of living, making their wallets feel lighter while prices become heavier.
On the flip side, Vice President Harris has apparently declared that the American people are ready for a break from Trump. While her campaign circles Pennsylvania and other states, voters seem a whole lot more concerned about the economy than what she’s selling. The mainstream media, feeling the heat of Trump’s rally fervor, has joined the fray by accusing the former president of spreading negative sentiments about women and immigrants. It seems they’d rather focus on trivialities than the pressing issue glaring Americans in the face every time they hit the grocery store.
While the country is embroiled in an intense presidential race and trying to figure out how to pay their grocery and electric bills, meteorologists weigh in on the potential for an active hurricane season in the midst of November. With expectations for one to three named storms brewing in the Atlantic, one could argue nature is about to add its two cents to the country’s problems. Floridians and Carolinians are on high alert, dealing with the aftermath of earlier landfalls, while the Gulf of Mexico appears to be taking a breather.
Amidst the political storm brewing, Donald Trump’s recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast generated more views than a blockbuster movie premiere, ruffling feathers and signaling just how out of touch the media might be with the general populace’s interests. Even as poll numbers reveal that inflation remains a pressing issue for over half of the U.S. population, it seems the mainstream is still fixated on divisive rhetoric rather than actionable solutions for everyday Americans struggling to make ends meet. Welcome to the new reality where cosmic ambitions and terrestrial issues clash, and where folks in charge appear to be more focused on maintaining power than actually improving lives.
