The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board is reporting that Russian President Vladimir Putin may calculate that Donald Trump would not provide assistance to Europe during a crisis involving NATO. It also said that capitalism and pharmaceutical innovations are extending American life expectancy through new cures. The board highlighted a new study indicating that patients covered by Medicaid and Medicare face longer wait times for cancer treatment. Separately, it noted that the Supreme Court has permitted President Trump to pursue a second "pretextual firing" of Lisa Cook, suggesting he might do so. In commentary, the board observed that discontented Iowans are considering Democratic candidates, despite the state's 12-year Republican lean, attributing this shift to factors like tariffs and the Iran war. It also discussed Senator JD Vance's stance, which it characterized as rejecting Milton Friedman's free-market principles in favor of bigger government. Another piece suggested President Trump should block what it termed unconstitutional state pacts, specifically California's climate agreements with Quebec. The board further reported on a proposed change to Form 990, which would mandate 501(c)3 organizations disclose if their top officials have convictions for financial or terrorism-related crimes. In its "Potomac Watch" column, the board criticized legal journalists for enabling "lawfare" by supporting what it called meritless lawsuits against Donald Trump. Finally, a column warned of an impending "consumption-tax storm" in America, advocating resistance to calls for a Europe-style Value Added Tax as the fiscal crisis deepens.
