Politics and views in the United States

Business leaders and economists are assessing the impact of the Iran War. The Labor Secretary resigns amid a misconduct investigation and Michigan residents aim to limit corporate money in politics.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

They're not laying off, but they're not hiring to the extent that they would hire.

I would describe all these as neutral to just beginning to see potential for some negative impacts, but it doesn't mean that these negative impacts are going to be really meaningful.

Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf says he's guardedly optimistic about the economy in spite of the war.

Iran is again blocking traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and is refusing new talks with the U.S.

The IMF warns continued conflict will noticeably slow global growth and oil prices rose modestly on Monday.

Beyond the worldwide pinch at the pump, a jet fuel shortage in Europe could send ticket prices soaring.

Some countries have less than a month's supply and airlines there have begun canceling flights.

The EU Energy Commissioner is calling on the nations to share fuel stocks.

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez de Reamer has resigned amid multiple misconduct allegations, including an affair with a staffer, abusing taxpayer-funded trips, and making employees perform personal tasks.

It's the third cabinet departure in two months.

FBI Director Kash Patel is suing The Atlantic.

An article there accused him of excessive drinking and unexplained absences, being paranoid about being fired, and says his behavior might be a threat to national security.

Patel calls the accusations obviously fabricated.

The House Ethics Committee says it's investigated 20 members for sexual misconduct in the last nine years.

With scandal forcing out two, and at least two more under a cloud, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says there will be changes to the chamber's ethics rules.

Everything needs to be looked at to ensure that people are kept safe here in the Congress and that women staffers and members are treated at all times with the dignity and respect that they deserve.

A push to limit corporate money in Michigan politics is gaining momentum.

A new survey finds strong bipartisan support for restricting political contributions from regulated monopolies and companies seeking government contracts.

Christy McGillivray with Voters Not Politicians says they're seeking signatures to put an initiative to do that on the ballot.

Nothing in Lansing is changing and they're not being held accountable because fundamentally the money in Lansing is what lawmakers are answering to instead of their constituents.

And when that happens, that means people start losing faith in democracy.

Ohio's primary election is in the first week of May, but only a fifth of voters cast ballots in the 2022 midterms.

League of Women Voters of Ohio Executive Director Jen Miller says people don't often realize those votes can impact everything, from funding for public schools and fire departments to how local governments tackle housing affordability.

Last year in Middletown, voters were trying to fund their school district and they lost by five votes.

So what this shows us is that a lot of times voters are not showing up to primaries.

Virginia voters are heading to the polls to decide if the state will redraw congressional maps ahead of the midterms.

The new maps heavily favor Democrats, but surveys suggest the vote will be close.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacific Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.