What will the United States look like in 2026?

In this episode of Independent, Paul Johnson and a panel of economists and political analysts break down the four biggest forces shaping America’s future: the economy, housing affordability, immigration enforcement, and geopolitics.

First, the panel makes economic predictions for 2026, debating whether the U.S. can sustain growth amid uncertainty surrounding tariffs, Federal Reserve independence, market volatility, and the explosive rise of artificial intelligence.

Next, the conversation turns to housing affordability, including Donald Trump’s proposal to ban institutional investors from buying single-family homes. Will this lower prices — or make the housing shortage worse by discouraging new construction and investment?

The discussion then shifts to ICE and immigration enforcement, focusing on the deadly incident in Minneapolis and the growing tension between federal immigration authorities, local governments, and activist networks. The panel examines whether aggressive enforcement is improving border control — or fueling instability inside American cities.

Lastly, the episode explores geopolitics, focusing on U.S. military action in Venezuela and what it signals about America’s global strategy. The panel debates whether the move was driven by oil, deterrence, or political leverage, and what it means for regional stability. The discussion then broadens to Ukraine, NATO, and America’s standing with its European allies, raising concerns about weakening trust, rising global instability, and whether the current world order is beginning to fracture.