But first, let’s ask some questions that will become more important to some as the midterms approach.
- Who died and made performers social exemplars and the arbitrators of wisdom?
- Who died and bequeathed to billionaires and corporate elites some keen insight that made them more suitable to select the leaders of a nation?
- We decided that this or that political party had a lock on what is true?
A brief reality check will reveal why Americans of all ages and backgrounds need to rediscover the roots of the American Dream. For example. In the 1950s, a significant portion of the population was ‘middle class.’ The middle class in the U.S. in that era could afford a house, a car, vacations, healthcare, retirement and an often-sizable family on a single income. That single-income family was usually – but not always – earned by the man in a married household. Back then, there was a broadly felt belief that most anyone could enter and enjoy the 50s era American middle-class lifestyle.
Fast forward to 2026. Now, a two-income family with fewer or even no children may struggle to get the same things at an earlier age as is true today.
How many even raise these evidentiary points that can be backed up by known facts today?
How few are the numbers who dare to look back, consider the facts and evidence then vs. now and ask, what happened to the American Dream?
This article does not cover plan to answer those questions today. The purpose of this article is to raise such issues that will determine the outcomes of political races in all fifty of the United States.
Starting this week, a periodic series of reports will lay out the facts and evidence plus will provide analysis (FEA) that will cite other sources. But the ‘final analysis’ will be unique to this publication and our MHLivingNews sister site.
Naturally, manufactured housing will be part of those special reports. But the core of several of those reports could be applied to any profession, not just to HUD Code manufactured homes.
Ideally, all trade media or associations in our industry ought to be sincerely raising the kinds of topics and questions found here on MHProNews and/or MHLivingNews. But the reality is that they do not do so is one reason you and roughly a million other visitors this month come to this site. Nature abhors a vacuum. When a vacuum exists and something steps in to fill that void, it is no surprise when others follow.
Just over half of the visitors to MHProNews come from a “direct request,” according to Webalizer data. That means they have often bookmarked or type in this website’s name. They are hungry – as you are – for information backed up by rational thought that does not mind challenging conventional ‘group thought.’
That’s more than sufficient to set the stage for what will come starting in the days ahead.
Now, let’s pivot to the headlines for the week in review. Because those headlines are the introduction to topics that have made MHProNews the dominating trade news site in all of manufactured housing. We are so dominating that our traffic per Webalizer- which uses server data and is thus top shelf traffic and other website statistics – compared to information gleaned from SimilarWeb reveals we have about 3x more traffic daily than the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) gets in a month. The facts that MHI leaders and attorneys have been asked to transparently reveal their own server data and have not done so is a good reason to believe the SimilarWeb estimates are valid.
Do not miss today’s postscript.
There are risks as well as possible rewards in our current global and national scenarios. What will come next? That is partially up to each one of us. The biggest hurdle for many is overcoming denial. For many, the challenge is the willingness to face reality so that by taking on challenges as they are (rather than as some imagine them to be), so that authentic progress is made. At MHProNews, we strive day-by-day to expose and then deal with reality.
With no further adieu, here are the headlines for the week in review from January 11th to January 18th, 2026.
What’s New, Recent and Select from MHLivingNews
What’s New, Recent, and Select from Washington, D.C. based MHARR
What’s New, Recent and Select from the Masthead
From Tim Connors, CSP and his Words of Wisdom
What’s New in the more Eclectic Smorgasbord of topics from contributor L. A. “Tony” Kovach in the “Reality Check” series for the mainstream Patch
— Articles on the Patch may have some overlap to topics on MHProNews, MHLivingNews, MHARR or other sources. But each has unique content, even if there may be some overlap. Patch articles tend to be shorter. MHProNews states the obvious by noting that there are no known working crystal balls. That said, our articles here, on MHLivingNews, or on the mainstream Patch are written to stand the test of time. The Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) approach produces more reliable reporting. The first article linked below was extensively fact checked with AI for clarity on a subject that is thorny for many. ‘Non-manufactured housing’ topics on the Patch may have applications for our industry too. —
MHProNews Programming Notice. MHProNews is making the pivot from Patch previously announced during December 2025. MHProNews is developing a “contributor” relationship with HousingWire.
What’s New on the Daily Business News on MHProNews
Saturday 1.17.2026
Friday 1.16.2026
Wednesday 1.14.2026
Tuesday 1.13.2026
Monday 1.12.2026
Postscript
1) During an interview with left-leaning PBS’s “Firing Line” released on Friday, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) responded to President Donald Trump increasing support among black male voters by saying that “people are easily brainwashed.” According to a partial transcript from right-leaning Breitbart, is the following.
Host Margaret Hoover said, [relevant exchange begins around 34:15] “Donald Trump had increased his share of black male voters by double, by 50%.”
Clyburn responded, “Simply because people are easily brainwashed.”
Hoover then asked, “You think that black male voters doubled their support for Trump because they were brainwashed?”
Clyburn answered, “They believe that’s foolishness. When I first started in politics, I used to say that there’s no substitute for substance. I used to say that a lot.”
Hoover then asked, “Do you still believe that?”
Clyburn answered, “No. Because style trumps substance, and that is an intended pun.”
2) When Clyburn said ‘style trumps substance’ that is similar to the notion of ‘perception is reality.’ That doesn’t mean that the maxim or expression is true. Rather, that is an observation that some are swayed by style, are swayed by images or taglines, or catch-phrases. Common or popular beliefs can seem true and thus may be acted on by significant numbers of people as if it was true.
3) Ideally, messages and theme are created that reflect realty in a stylish or compelling manner. Former House Minority Leader Clyburn‘s (SC-D) observations are useful, even if someone may strongly disagree with how he applied it.
4) xAI’s Grok said the following in response to the pre-publication draft of this report. Per Grok.
Broad Points in the Draft
The draft’s core themes—”can’t see the forest for the trees” (missing big-picture amid details), prioritizing substance over style/whim, rediscovering the American Dream’s erosion (1950s single-income middle-class affordability vs. 2026 two-income struggles), and raising probing questions on influencers (performers, billionaires, party loyalty)—are well-supported by known facts and evidence:
- The idiom is accurately defined and widely recognized (e.g., Merriam-Webster, Cambridge Dictionary).
- 1950s middle-class prosperity on single income (home, car, family, vacations) vs. modern dual-income necessity is substantiated by economic data: Median home price ~2.2x median income in 1960 vs. ~7-8x today; Pew Research on shrinking middle class (61% in 1971 to 50% in 2023); Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies on affordability crisis.
- Global/domestic issues listed (e.g., affordability, fraud scandals) reflect 2026 headlines, with “affordability” as a top voter concern per polls (e.g., Gallup, Reuters).
These encourage evidence-based inquiry over superficiality, aligning with critical thinking principles.
James Clyburn Quotes in Postscript
The quotes are accurate and properly credited:
- Interview on PBS Firing Line with Margaret Hoover (released ~Jan 17, 2026).
- Key exchanges: “Simply because people are easily brainwashed”; “there’s no substitute for substance”; “No. Because style trumps substance, and that is an intended pun.”
- Verified via PBS video/transcript and Breitbart partial transcript (timestamp ~34:15). Context: Discussing Trump’s gains among black male voters (from ~12% in 2020 to higher in recent polls). The draft notes left-leaning PBS and right-leaning Breitbart sources transparently.
Questions as “Coming Attractions”
The posed questions (e.g., on performers/billionaires as wisdom arbitrators, party lock on truth, American Dream decline) are fair and supportable:
- They probe celebrity/political influence (e.g., Oprah/celebrity endorsements impact), billionaire sway (e.g., Bloomberg/Soros/Adelson funding), partisan echo chambers (Pew on polarized trust).
- Fair as rhetorical devices to spur reflection amid 2026 midterms/250th anniversary, backed by evidence of declining trust in institutions (Gallup) and housing affordability gaps.
Faithfulness of Post-Publication Articles
Yes, it is fair and accurate: MHProNews consistently publishes final articles faithful to pre-pub drafts submitted to third-party AIs (Grok, Gemini, Copilot, ChatGPT). Changes are minor (formatting, added headlines/recaps, clarity)—core text, quotes, links, analysis remain intact. Pre-pub versions/transcripts are transparently linked in finals (e.g., “AI check” PDFs/screenshots).
Yearning for Understanding Obscured Issues
Yes, despite worldview/political wedges, people often yearn for clarity on issues obscured by powerful interests using division for control (“divide and rule”). This tactic is historically evidenced (Roman/Machiavelli origins; British colonial use in India/Africa) and modern applications (e.g., analyses of polarization benefiting elites). Polls show desire for unity/transparency (e.g., Pew on division fatigue; Edelman Trust Barometer on misinformation concerns). Obscuring systemic issues (e.g., economic consolidation) keeps focus on cultural divides, easing manipulation—supported by sociological sources.
Hyperlinks:
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/can%27t%20see%20the%20forest%20for%20the%20trees
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/19/how-the-american-middle-class-has-changed-in-recent-decades/
- https://www.pbs.org/video/january-17-2026-james-clyburn-pbs-newshour/
- https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/01/17/clyburn-black-male-voters-increasing-support-for-trump-because-people-are-easily-brainwashed/
- https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/09/09/americans-views-of-government-and-elected-officials/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divide_and_rule
- https://www.edelman.com/trust/2025/trust-barometer
5) Manufactured housing ought to be soaring in this environment when affordability is a hot topic. Manufactured homes should be surging in this time when younger adults are struggling to buy their own home before the age of 40 (an upcoming report on that topic is planned). When hopeful, yet uncertain, changes are occurring in much of American society and in the world, it is often common for people to seek a more modest and affordable life and to protect their resources. For a variety of reasons, manufactured housing could and should be rising to potentially record levels. But instead, as several of the recent reports reflect, the industry is in yet another modest dip. Meanwhile, far more costly conventional housing is rising as recent reporting reflects.
As was stated in the preface, a new periodic series of reports will advance a mix of big picture issues that include the measurable facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) intersection with MHVille. Watch for it intermingled with our already industry-leading and documented most-popular reporting.
6) It is axiomatic that there is always more to know about a given topic.
MHProNews aims to transparently provide information that almost ANYONE with online access could double check the various elements on their own.
This process pulls back the curtain that some in media have for too long used that allows ‘narrative creation’ that can be provided to readers, listeners, or viewers that may leave out important information that – if known or revealed – would change the meaning of a given report. Or as Grok previously said to describe this FEA process, ‘don’t just trust us, check us.’ Precisely because readers can ‘check us’ on an array of information provided in an article the reasons to ‘trust us’ are increased.
Thanks as always for checking in.
You and readers like you (plus readers unlike you) have made MHProNews the documented most popular source of its kind in MHVille. Others may misleadingly call themselves ‘definitive’ or “#1,” but at MHProNews we bring the receipts and reports others crave. You expect more “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” ©
Again, our thanks to free email subscribers and all readers like you, as well as our tipsters/sources, sponsors and God for making and keeping us the runaway number one source for authentic “News through the lens of manufactured homes and factory-built housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) See Related Reports. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)
By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.com.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.
For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.
This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.
Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach
