Don't miss our Substack page where Pundit-at-Large Stephen Macaulay's latest right-column commentary is "Trump Wants a Putin Victory." While there, be sure to check out "How About an AmeriCon?"

Email editors@thehustings.news and please indicate your political leanings in the subject line. Please note: We do not expect you to follow right/left or red/blue party lines with your comments, which is why we ask you to indicate whether you are left or right in the subject line. 

Contributors for our right column include Pundit-at-Large Stephen Macaulay, a never-Trumper conservative, and Rich Corbett, a pro-MAGA conservative. Macaulay’s comments may align much more often with left-column contributors like Sharon Lintner and Hugh Hansen, but that’s what The Hustings is all about and it is why we ask you to list your political leanings in the subject line for comments via email. We want to post your comments in the column with which you regularly identify; not necessarily the column that aligns with your comments on a single, particular subject. Help us grow into a news & commentary site that exposes readers to a variety of political thought and ideas. 

For more civil political news and discussion, please be sure to visit our Substack page.

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WEDNESDAY 3/12/25

Commentary by Stephen Macaulay

Brooke Rollins, US Secretary of Agriculture, when asked about egg shortages during a Fox & Friends Weekend segment, suggested that people might think, “Wow, maybe I could get a chicken in my backyard!”

That’s right, people can dodge the high price of eggs at the supermarket by raising chickens.

Isn’t it a sign of an advanced economy that people don’t need to raise their own poultry, livestock, grains, and vegetables?

Is this what Trump means about our going to a new Golden Age, one that is more analogous to 2^nd century Rome than 21^st century Shanghai?

During the first Trump administration Rollins served as the head of the White House Office of American Innovation.

And there you have it: the innovative approach to dealing with the consequences of Bird Flu as well as an overall economic decline is to raise chickens.

Yes, this is how Team Trump is going to make America great.

Macaulay is pundit-at-large for The Hustings.

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WEDNESDAY 3/12/25

About Trump’s Address to Congress

Contrary to what President Trump claimed in his address to Congress, America is not back. In fact, it's farther from itself than it's ever been because of him: alliances with adversaries, attacks on allies, broken promises, and endless lies and distortions. Instead of presenting a sober speech on issues concerning the nation, Trump ran in full campaign mode, spewing false claims about his predecessor and even calling a member of Congress a derogatory nickname.

The message of Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico summed things up accurately when she held a sign reading, “This is not normal.”
--Joe Lintner 
Via Email

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Email editors@thehustings.news and please indicate your political leanings in the subject line. Please note: We do not expect you to follow right/left or red/blue party lines with your comments, which is why we ask you to indicate whether you are left or right in the subject line. 

Contributors for our right column include Pundit-at-Large Stephen Macaulay, a never-Trumper conservative, and Rich Corbett, a pro-MAGA conservative. Macaulay’s comments may align much more often with left-column contributors like Sharon Lintner and Hugh Hansen, but that’s what The Hustings is all about and it is why we ask you to list your political leanings in the subject line for comments via email. We want to post your comments in the column with which you regularly identify; not necessarily the column that aligns with your comments on a single, particular subject. Help us grow into a news & commentary site that exposes readers to a variety of political thought and ideas. 

For more civil political news and discussion, please be sure to visit our Substack page.

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MONDAY 3/10/25

Commentary by Stephen Macaulay

“American families and businesses are struggling with high costs. It’s one of the top issues that they want policymakers to address.”

That’s Neil Bradley, Chief Policy Officer at the US Chamber of Commerce.

The US Chamber of Commerce has never been accused of being anything but pro-business since it was established in April 1912. It has quite a track record of being, well, non-liberal.

Bradley was reacting to the 25% tariffs that were and possibly will go on to most goods from Canada and Mexico.

Evidently it seems that the Chamber is not seeing a whole lot of addressing of the high-cost issue going on in Washington.

Rather, what’s being seen is a mean sideshow of people getting thrown out of their jobs, in some cases simply because they were doing what they were told to do.

Some guy who runs a car company is suddenly not only a human resources genius, but he knows all about everything from social aid programs to criminal investigations.

“Look at what DOGE is doing! Ignore everything else, like our throwing Ukraine under the treads of a T-90A to the fact that eggs are still expensive. Isn’t Elon swell!”

The Chamber points out the trade with Canada and Mexico supports 13 million American jobs.

If jobs are a concern of the Trump Administration, then what about these jobs?

Trump said in his address to Congress last week:

“We pay subsidies to Canada and to Mexico of hundreds of billions of dollars.”

Which is simply untrue.

The trade deficit, for example, with Canada, according to the US Census Bureau (hope those people have cardboard boxes handy to clear out their desks), is $64.26 billion.

What does that mean?

Simply: Americans buy stuff that Canadians have for sale in greater quantities than Canadians buy American stuff. That is not a subsidy. When you go to McDonalds and buy a burger, are you subsidizing the company? Apparently you are in Trump World.

The trade deficit with Mexico is higher: $179 billion.

But again, this is not a subsidy, this is something based on what we buy from Mexico.

And this is not all vegetables. The US buys things from electrical machinery to surgical instruments from Mexico. The next time you need a medical procedure you might be happy there’s equipment in that OR from Mexico.

Again: no one is making us buy stuff from Canada or Mexico. But because of something once revered by Republicans known as the “free market” we had the opportunity to make those purchases.

But the Trump Administration doesn’t even abide by a free-trade agreement that Donald Trump negotiated during his first term (USMCA). 

Getting back to the Chamber’s Bradley:

“We also want to work together to keep costs down, but tariffs will only raise prices and increase the economic pain being felt by everyday Americans across the country. We urge reconsideration of this policy and a swift end to these tariffs.”

Raise prices.

Increase the economic pain.

Now the Chamber is in favor of things that make liberal’s blood run cold:

“The Chamber supports the administration’s efforts to advance pro-growth policies like fewer regulations and less taxation that will grow our economy and expand opportunity.”

But it knows that tariffs do little to help the economy.

And because the President rolls out people to make his point, when the Chamber made its announcement, it did so, as well.

Like Traci Tapani, co-president of Wyoming Machine, a sheet metal fabricator in Minnesota that processes aluminum (another Trump Tariff Target).

Tapani:

“My company will feel an immediate, detrimental impact as a result of these tariffs.”

That’s a nice way of saying they’re going to be gut-punched and will probably have to make adjustments to every aspect of their business.

Trump has been making it sound like we are now in the Golden Age. . .but now he shifts.

In an interview on Fox News with Maria Bartiromo, when asked about the possibility of a recession this year, he responded:

“I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition, because what we’re doing is very big. We’re bringing wealth back to America. That’s a big thing. And there are always periods of, it takes a little time. It takes a little time, but I think it should be great for us.”

There is “a period of transition, because what we are doing is very big.”

What they are doing is big: Destroying supply chains that have been reinforced since the COVID debacle that he is not inculpable for. (“You know, a lot of people think that it goes away in April with the heat — as the heat comes in. Typically, that will go away in April.” —President Trump, February 10, 2020)

“We’re bringing wealth back to America.”

No, what tariffs will do is take money out of people’s pockets in America. Prices will go up for essentially everything for people whether they are running a fab shop or trying to buy fabric to sew a Communion dress.

“And there are always periods of” — why didn’t he come out and say it: Periods when people are going to suffer economically — and largely without reason.

Now-retired Professor Michael Porter developed a theory of the Competitive Advantage of Nations. There are four elements involved (which you don’t need to know). Suffice it to say that some places do thing better than other places. (e.g., Silicon Valley is what it is because of the conditions on the ground there, something that other parts of the US haven’t been able to replicate. And if it was easy, there would be Silicon Valleys across the globe. But some places have the right factors and others don’t.)

That’s pretty much how the world works. 

In addition to making it more expensive for people in the US, tariffs also have the consequence of “protecting” the market from competitors — competitors that may have more advanced or clever products to sell. But by making those products prohibitively expensive, they are kept out of the market and domestic products that are less advanced continue because there is little incentive for companies to improve those products.

On the homepage of the White House website it says:

America Is Back

“Every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body. I will not rest

until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America.”

If the Trump Administration continues what it is doing — attacking our allies, throwing scientists and researchers at federal labs out of their jobs, putting unnecessary taxes on American consumers, the headline will read:

America Is Behind

And we will be less strong, less safe, less prosperous, and our children will be inheriting a less robust America.

But he can’t admit that.

Macaulay is pundit-at-large for The Hustings.

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MONDAY 3/10/25

Commentary by Jerry Lanson

I’m a Democrat, and a liberal to boot.  But I bet we can agree on some things: That our country needs a stable economy. That it needs decent medical care and coverage.  That we need to treat our veterans with respect. And that we need at least enough of a government to keep us safe, warn us of approaching storms, and help care for our kids and aging parents.

There’s mounting evidence the Trump Administration is breaking down safeguards in all these areas – and fast. So I’m writing to ask for help in convincing your GOP representatives to tap the brakes even as they (and you) press forward with the perceived need to shake things up.

Let me ask some questions to make my point:

• 1) Do you believe tariffs are going to lower prices?

The Trump administration this week imposed and then lifted 25% tariffs on most products arriving from our two strongest trading partners, Mexico and Canada. At least for four weeks.  These chaotic actions have caused a stock market rollercoaster ride that’s mostly pointed sharply downhill. Here’s why. First, after the big three American auto manufacturers warned that car prices would quickly spike thousands of dollars, the administration ordered a 30-day hold on tariffs for cars and trucks. Then, the administration must have realized food and energy prices would continue to climb. It postponed most tariffs until April 2, first on Mexico and then later for Canada. 

This helter-skelter approach has done little to bolster consumer or business confidence. 

Consumers are spending less of their discretionary money. They see inflation continue to tick up at 3% or more annually. Gas prices climbed about 20 cents a gallon this week in my Cape Cod town. And the price of eggs? They are high and keep going up. 

Wrote The Economist magazine: “Trump’s tariff turbulence is worse than anyone imagined.”

• 2) Do veterans deserve to be singled out for hurt by government cuts?

It may not be intentional, but they have been. About 30% of the federal government’s more than 3 million employees are veterans. And tens of thousands of federal workers already have been fired. Half live outside Washington, D.C.

Now, the Veterans Affairs Administration is planning for deep cuts in serving our veterans.  An internal memo, sent this Tuesday to top officials and obtained by CBS News, says that by August, “The department’s goal is to …  cut more than 70,000 workers.”  

That’s one hell of a thank you to the men and women who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. They deserve our help with physical and psychological health issues, jobs and more.

•  3) Do you want to know when the next big storm is going to hit?

Big storms are a given. Hurricanes slammed Florida and the Carolinas this season, floods and tornados pummeled the South, and fires, whipped by high winds, tore through parts of the West Coast.

Predicting big storms is the work of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Its information is essential in preparing for storms. NOAA forecasts, issued in the billions each year, reach 96% of US households, The Associated Press reports.

The Trump Administration’s job cuts are crippling this weather forecasting.

In the latest round of cuts Monday, it fired 1,300 NOAA employees, the AP reported. AP noted that the American Meteorological Society is warning these cuts have put the country at greater risk. 

“The consequences to the American people will be large and wide-ranging, including increased vulnerability to hazardous weather,” the meteorological society wrote in a statement.

Rallies across the country were scheduled for Friday, March 7 in support of science and against deep cuts to this and other agencies.

• 4) Do you think government spending cuts are being carried out with planning and care?

They aren’t.

President Trump says he’s proud of Elon Musk’s DOGE boys for getting rid of waste.  But the cuts Musk is making don’t reflect worker performance reviews or the importance of particular jobs. They’ve been deep, arbitrary, and often as chaotic as the on-off tariffs.   

For example, Musk cut the medical detectives in the Centers for Disease Control just as scientists were saying bird flu could jump from birds to humans.  On Thursday, 180 CDC workers fired two weeks ago received emails asking them to return immediately, the AP reports. 

It's not clear where they worked.  But we know DOGE’s cuts have focused disproportionately on so-called “probationary employees,” a anyone who has been hired, changed jobs or been promoted in the last year or two.  Musk’s team fired just about all probationary workers because they have fewer protections.

The CDC situation is no aberration either. The New York Times noted as much in an article titled, “Fired, then Rehired by the Trump Administration.”

“Even as the Trump Administration continues to slash federal jobs, a number of federal agencies have begun to reverse course – reinstating some workers and pausing plans to dismiss others,” the authors wrote.

On February 13, the Administration laid off more than 300 employees of the National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains and secures the country’s nuclear warheads. A day later, it recalled some. It fired and then rehired workers who review food safety, respond to the bird flu and protect forests. DOGE, it seems, operates a little like a drunken driver weaving back and forth over a double-yellow line.

• 5) What’s next?

By Thursday, President Trump had issued 117 executive orders. Soon, he will eliminate the Department of Education, which dispenses grants to college students from less affluent families and supports K-12 programs for kids with a wide range of disabilities. Deep cuts in Medicaid could drive many thousands of elderly from nursing homes. In April, the administration plans to deport 240,000 Ukrainians who were given temporary legal status under the Biden administration..

Only pushback from the Congress, the Supreme Court or “we, the people” -- including you, the president’s supporters – can slow or limit these actions.

If anything I’ve touched on bothers you, speak up. Don’t leave it to libs like me.  The Republican National Committee has told Republican members of Congress to stop holding public forums. But they still have voicemail and email. Please consider using both.

Lanson writes From the Grassroots at Substack.

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SAT-SUN 3/8-9/25

Commentary by Rich Corbett

On March 4, 2025, President Donald J. Trump stood before Congress and the American people to deliver a forceful, unapologetic vision for America’s future. Unwavering in his commitment to economic prosperity, national security, and restoring law and order, the President laid out a blueprint for a stronger and more prosperous nation — despite the predictable and ever-present resistance from the Democratic side of the aisle.

One of the most striking moments of the evening came when President Trump openly addressed the partisan divide that continues to define Washington D.C. “Once again, I look at the Democrats in front of me and I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud,” he stated. “I could find a cure to the most devastating disease, announce the greatest economy in history, or bring crime to the lowest levels ever recorded, and these people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements. They won’t do it no matter what.” His words resonated with millions of Americans who have witnessed firsthand the political obstruction and unwillingness of his opponents to acknowledge progress.

The speech was not without drama. Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was removed from the chamber, a symbol of the deep-seated opposition Trump continues to face. Yet, despite the partisan theatrics, the president pressed forward with his ambitious agenda.

At the heart of Trump’s speech was a robust economic plan designed to put more money back into the pockets of American citizens. He announced sweeping tax cuts for all Americans, emphasizing a pro-worker, pro-business agenda that includes making these tax reductions permanent. Among the key components:

• No taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits.
• Tax-deductible interest on American-made car loans.
• Retroactive expensing for businesses, ensuring companies can reinvest and grow.

Additionally, President Trump highlighted the importance of fair trade, pointing out that for decades, other nations have imposed tariffs on American goods while enjoying free access to US markets. “Other countries have used tariffs against us for years, it’s very unfair. Some countries don’t even permit US products in their markets.” He announced that, beginning April 2nd, the US will implement reciprocal tariffs —whatever foreign nations tax us, we will tax them.

Trump also recognized companies that are investing in US manufacturing, reinforcing his “America First” economic policies.

In response to the rising crime epidemic in many American cities, President Trump vowed to bring back law and order, reinforcing his commitment to protecting law enforcement officers. One of his most significant proposals was a mandatory death penalty for anyone who kills a police officer, a policy aimed at ensuring the safety and respect that law enforcement officers deserve.

Addressing illegal immigration, President Trump celebrated his administration’s sweeping border crackdown, which has already resulted in the lowest number of illegal crossings in recent history. “The media and our friends in the Democrat Party kept saying we needed new legislation, we must have legislation to secure the border. But it turned out that all we really needed was a new president.”

A poignant moment in the speech came when Trump recognized the family of Laken Riley, whose tragic story became a rallying cry for stronger immigration enforcement. Even Democrats, often reluctant to acknowledge the consequences of their open-border policies, were seen clapping politely as Trump highlighted the Laken Riley Act.

President Trump took a moment to honor foster families, calling them “heroes” and recognizing their selfless contributions to society. He also reiterated his commitment to shipbuilding in the United States and reclaiming America’s influence over the Panama Canal, emphasizing the need for strategic economic and military independence.

As expected, after the speech an old-school media personality, Brit Hume of Fox News, pointed out that the speech was “partisan.”  However, former Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN), provided a more measured response, acknowledging that Democrats “need to win on ideas,” that they are resisting without offering policy alternatives. 

President Trump’s speech made one thing clear: He remains steadfast in his mission to restore prosperity, security, and fairness to the American people. With bold economic policies, a firm stance on law and order, and a commitment to putting America first, he is proving that leadership isn’t about appeasement — it’s about action. While his opponents may refuse to acknowledge his achievements, millions of Americans are standing with him as he fights to reclaim the greatness of the United States.

Corbett is a contributing pundit, who writes about a variety of subjects at My Desultory Blog.

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SAT-SUN 3/8-9/25

Comment on ‘He’s Going to Make You Pay’ by Pundit-at-Large Stephen Macaulay (Wednesday, March 5):

Is there anyone in the current – can we call it an “administration?” – with a spreadsheet? Not that Billy Bone Spurs can understand an analytical approach to an issue. Or wants to.

--Kate McLeod

Via Substack

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We need you to help fill these left and right columns. 

Email editors@thehustings.news and please indicate your political leanings in the subject line. Please note: We do not expect you to follow right/left or red/blue party lines with your comments, which is why we ask you to indicate whether you are left or right in the subject line. 

Contributors for our right column include Pundit-at-Large Stephen Macaulay, a never-Trumper conservative, and Rich Corbett, a pro-MAGA conservative. Macaulay’s comments may align much more often with left-column contributors like Sharon Lintner and Hugh Hansen, but that’s what The Hustings is all about and it is why we ask you to list your political leanings in the subject line for comments via email. We want to post your comments in the column with which you regularly identify; not necessarily the column that aligns with your comments on a single, particular subject. Help us grow into a news & commentary site that exposes readers to a variety of political thought and ideas. 

For more civil political news and discussion, please be sure to visit our Substack page.

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THURSDAY 3/6/25

Commentary by Stephen Macaulay

In 2018 Donald Trump reportedly said he didn’t want to make a visit to the Marne American Cemetery in France, where American service people are buried, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers."

While he denied saying that, he can’t deny saying of honorable military veteran John McCain, "He's not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured."

He said that out loud at a campaign rally in Iowa in 2015.

Trump, of course, didn’t serve. Four deferments because he was going to school. Another because of bone spurs in his heels.

What has and continues to make America great are the brave men and women — yes, Hegseth, women — who put their lives on the line to defend this country.

This has been the case since the late 18^th century.

On June 15, 1775, George Washington was named commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. He resigned, at war’s end, in 1783. He served without compensation.

During his March 4 speech Trump said, “In fact, it has been stated by many that the first month of our presidency, it's our presidency, is the most successful in the history of our nation. By many. And what makes it even more impressive, is that you know who number two is? George Washington.”

It is not a fact. It is [fill in your favorite word here].

Washington was a hero who helped build this country. Trump is busy tearing it down and going to economic war with our allies while giving political support to our enemies.

The country has a compact with our military veterans.

They support us 365/24/7.

We support them after their service.

On July 21, 1930, President Herbert Hoover established the Veterans Administration. It was created by Executive Order.

And now Trump is reportedly planning on cutting some 80,000 employees, 15% of the staff, at the VA.

The reporting comes from the Associated Press, whose people saw an internal memo about it. The AP, the stalwart organization that is doing its reporting without compromising its journalistic ethics.

The AP reports:

“Michael Missal, who was the VA’s inspector general for nine years until he was fired last month as part of Trump’s sweeping dismissal of independent oversight officials at government agencies, told the AP that the VA is already suffering from a lack of “expertise” as top-level officials either leave or are shuffled around under the president’s plans.

“What’s going to happen is VA’s not going to perform as well for veterans, and veterans are going to get harmed,” said Missal.

The AP also reports this:

“White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement that the president ‘refuses to accept the VA bureaucracy and bloat that has hindered veterans’ ability to receive timely and quality care.’ She added that the changes would ‘ensure greater efficiency and transparency’ at the VA.”

Really? More efficiency? What systems are they putting in place to accomplish that?

How is it that possible with fewer people to answer the calls and to schedule the appointments and to help with the paperwork and to support our vets.

Adding insult to injury: Some 25% of the VA employees are vets.

Macaulay is pundit-at-large for The Hustings.

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THURSDAY 3/6/25

Submit your comments to editors@thehustings.news and please indicate your political leanings in the subject line, so we post said comments in the appropriate (right or left) column.

Comments on Trump’s Joint-Session Address, from our contributing pundits …

Must Be Stopped

Apparently, DJT will never, ever get over the fact that Joe Biden beat him fair and square in the 2020 election, by more than 8 million popular votes and a huge margin in Electoral College votes. He will never, ever stop berating the Biden administration and Joe Biden personally because Trump is the worst kind of sore loser. And, besides that, the most consistently absurd liar in the history of American politics. It was sickening to watch the smirking faces of (Vice President JD) Vance and (Speaker Mike) Johnson seated behind His Majesty, soon to be up for a Nobel Peace prize for screwing Ukraine. This has to be stopped.

--Jim McCraw

•••

Racial Slur

"Pocahontas?" Did I hear that correctly?

During a speech in front of the world, the president of this United States just called Senator Elizabeth Warren "Pocahontas."

Who, in their right mind, is okay with that? Who is okay with the Republican laughter that followed that racial slur? Vance actually laughed out loud. 

Those with sense in their head will say this behavior is childish, elementary, unbecoming of a President, but it is far beyond that. We have a real problem, this man is dangerous.

What do we do? Where do we go from here? The only place is down, if we allow this to continue. Congress, the writing is on the wall. 

--Sharon Lintner 

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WEDNESDAY 3/5/25

Commentary by Stephen Macaulay

Trump seems to think if he says something often enough it is true. And apparently there are a lot of people who are won over by his — I would say “tissue of,” but it is more like a thick tarpaulin of — lies. And even though some of them undoubtedly know better, they clap and nod and cheer.

Until the lies are exposed to a harsh reality. Yes, there is a difference between truth and lies.

But then there is a diversion to something equally outrageous.

So let’s consider parts of his presentation last night and put it into context with something that is going to be felt by all Americans, whether they believe him and voted for him or not.

Trump seems very proud of the 312 votes he won in the Electoral College, as though the number is unprecedented.

• Ronald Reagan (1984):      525
• George HW Bush:   426
• Bill Clinton:           370 and 379

Heck, the man he complained about more than Biden:

• Barack Obama:      365 and 332

Somehow that 312 isn’t especially mandate-like.

More important than Trump’s patting himself on the back was Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s response to the presentation that was like a reality show (which, of course, isn’t particularly real in any sense).

The Michigan Democrat said:

“He’s on the hunt to find trillions of dollars to pass along to the wealthiest in America, and to do that, he’s going to make you pay in every part of your life. Grocery and home prices are going up, not down, and he hasn’t laid out a credible plan to deal with either of those. His tariffs on allies like Canada will raise prices on energy, lumber and cars and start a trade war that will hurt manufacturing and farmers.”

First of all, the hunt for trillions being conducted by DOGE. Trump pointed out several instances where there seems to be what is silly spending. But do we know that the spending was superfluous or just something that makes for good television?

If you’ve ever run a business or even managed people you know that there are invariably some people who aren’t doing what they should be and perhaps once upon a time stole paper (does anyone print at home anymore?). 

But you knew who the good ones are.

Or let’s say you have a budget that pays for various functions. That wasn’t created by throwing darts at a board and then using the numbers.

Knowing what and how much can be cut takes serious forensic accounting.

Yet evidently in the “hunt for trillions” they are not deploying solid practices but hacking away.

We’ve seen them have to hire people back that had been let go. While these people are probably happy they’ve got a job, how committed do you think they’re going to be knowing that they’ve been treated like tissue paper?

“Every day my administration is fighting to deliver the change America needs to bring a future that America deserves, and we’re doing it.”

What are they doing?

To quote him:

• An immediate freeze on all federal hiring.
• A freeze on all new federal regulations.
• A freeze on all foreign aid.

And how does that help? That isn’t creating policy.

He “brought back free speech in America. It’s back.”

Is this why he sues and bans news organizations?

“Grocery and home prices are going up, not down, and he hasn’t laid out a credible plan to deal with either of those.”

He had claimed that he was going to deal with grocery prices on day one.

That’s hard to do. And he hasn’t done it.

Who is to blame for high egg prices?

Obama.

“Joe Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control.” Yes, blame it on someone 

else. But wasn’t he hired by the American people to address this?

He continued: “The egg prices, out of control. And we’re working hard to get it back down.”

How are they working to get the price down? Perhaps cutting people at the Food Safety and Inspection Service? 

Trump says he will get the price of eggs down by. . .drilling for oil.

He says “A major focus of our fight to defeat inflation is rapidly reducing the price of energy.”

Yes, energy is an input to food costs.

An input.

And while energy costs rose 1% year over year in January, housing prices in 2024 rose 4.7% and food prices by 1.6%. Seems like addressing those two categories would be beneficial. But it is easier to say “It’s called drill, baby, drill.”

The day of his speech he put 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico. 

So sticking to the grocery aspect of things, consider this, from the US Department of Agriculture (assuming that it is still open):

“Imports play an increasingly important role in ensuring that fresh fruit and vegetables are available year-round in the United States .... In 2023, Mexico and Canada supplied 51% and 2%, respectively, of U.S. fresh fruit imports, and 69% and 20%, respectively, of US fresh vegetable imports in terms of value.”

Oh, who needs that?

“Our new trade policy will also be great for the American farmer — I love the farmer — who will now be selling into our home market, the USA, because nobody is going to be able to compete with you.”

Think about that for a minute. What keeps prices of goods and services in check? Competition. But here is the Republican president saying that he is going to eliminate competition in the market. Whatever happened to free-markets, Republicans?

And those farmers had better hope that they’re able to increase prices by selling domestically because other countries will retaliate. During the first Trump administration, when he put tariffs on China, that country (surprise, surprise) retaliated, such that Trump had to provide aid to US farmers on the order of $61 billion.

As the Council on Foreign Relations put it of that situation:

“payouts to farmers battered by Chinese retaliation have eaten up over 92% of the trade-war tax proceeds.

“The president is therefore right when he says farmers ‘got’ his tariff money. That money came not from China, however, but from taxes he imposed on Americans.”

For someone who is so keen on reducing taxes, the taxes that we’ll be paying directly for tariffs seems counter to what he claims.

And Slotkin noted the prices of housing.

Here’s something from The Wall Street Journal on Monday:

“Lumber futures Monday rose to their highest point since August 2022, when wood prices were plunging from their pandemic peak, in a sign that it could get a lot more expensive to build a house or a deck if the Canadian tariffs stick.”

Slotkin is right: “he’s going to make you pay.”

Macaulay is pundit-at-large for The Hustings.

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WEDNESDAY 3/5/25