The Powell Perspective™

07/06/2025

Publius

How the Constitution Constrains Presidential Overreach Against States

This analysis examines constitutional safeguards against presidential overreach targeting state sovereignty, emphasizing separation of powers and anti-commandeering doctrines. It argues that state governments possess legal avenues to challenge federal executive actions exceeding constitutional authority, thereby protecting state autonomy and civil liberties. Full article - https://statecourtreport.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-constitution-constrains-presidential-overreach-against-states

Have the Trump Administration's Actions Put the US into a Constitutional Crisis?

Exploring executive overreach and constitutional boundaries, this article assesses whether recent presidential actions—including defunding mandates and birthright citizenship challenges—triggered a constitutional crisis. It details lawsuits from states and organizations contesting federal overreach, underscoring judicial intervention to uphold rule-of-law principles. Full article - https://www.theusconstitution.org/news/have-the-trump-administrations-actions-put-the-us-into-a-constitutional-crisis/

The RE Doctor

Healthy Community Design, Anti-displacement, and Equity

This article examines strategies to prevent displacement and promote equity in urban development, focusing on inclusionary zoning policies and revenue-generating tools like Tax Increment Financing. It emphasizes creating long-term affordable housing through mixed-income development and public land prioritization, with specific approaches for both residential and commercial displacement prevention.

Full article - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9798938/

Making Affordable Housing a Reality in Cities

This report outlines innovative solutions for affordable housing shortages, including transit-oriented development, algorithmic zoning for vibrant communities, and mixed-use projects that combine income levels and services. It also explores funding mechanisms like tax incentives for developers and land-value taxation to encourage construction in designated areas.

Full article - https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Making_Affordable_Housing_A_Reality_In_Cities_report.pdf

Skier Tom

International Standards for Mountain Instructors

This article details the UIAA's certification program, which accredits qualifications for mountaineering and climbing instructors across eight categories—including ski-mountaineering. It explains how the UIAA Mountain Qualifications Label ensures instructors meet rigorous international standards for safety, technical proficiency, and teaching effectiveness. The program also offers optional training courses to enhance leadership and technical skills. https://www.theuiaa.org/training/

Junior Ski Instructor Development Program

This piece outlines a PSIA Junior Instructor Program for 12–14-year-olds at Maple Ski Ridge, designed to cultivate future ski instructors through on-snow training and online modules. Participants develop essential career skills like public speaking, lesson planning, and group management while earning national recognition. Graduates receive guaranteed instructor positions, fostering community engagement and youth development in mountain sports. https://www.mapleskiridge.com/psia-junior-instructor-ski-program

Founder's Paradox

The Perils of Founder Worship

This article examines the risks of idolizing startup founders, highlighting how unchecked founder control can lead to governance failures, ethical lapses, and litigation. It advocates for early adoption of governance standards, startup-specific ethics codes, rigorous VC due diligence, traditional board structures, and regulatory compliance in high-risk sectors. Using examples like FTX, it argues that founder worship often sidelines accountability, endangering stakeholders and undermining legal safeguards.
https://clsbluesky.law.columbia.edu/2025/05/20/the-perils-of-founder-worship/

Start Smart: Founder-Proof Your Startup

This piece details legal and organizational strategies to mitigate founder-related risks, emphasizing corporate governance as essential for startup stability. Key recommendations include establishing an independent board early, removing passive directors, conducting quarterly formal board meetings, and documenting decisions to prevent disputes. It underscores how structured governance prevents litigation, operational inefficiencies, and founder isolation while attracting investor confidence.
https://www.svrlawyers.com/news-highlights-posts/2025/2/6/start-smart-founder-proof-your-startup

Secrets of Capital Raising

This article provides strategic insights for early-stage startups seeking capital in 2025, covering tailored approaches to seed rounds, investor expectations, and adapting to evolving venture dynamics. Full article - https://www.rightsidecapital.com/blog/navigating-the-2025-fundraising-landscape-strategic-insights-for-early-stage-startups

Your Ultimate Guide to Raising Capital in 2025

This guide details innovative fundraising strategies for 2025, including pre-sales campaigns, competition prize stacking, strategic partnerships, and content-to-capital approaches, while emphasizing outsourced CFO expertise for financial modeling and investor relations. Full article - https://preferredcfo.com/insights/from-bootstrap-to-billions-your-ultimate-guide-to-raising-capital-in-2025