The BLUE PRESS JOURNAL

We aim to be a voice in the ongoing political discourse, providing both factual information and opinionated analysis, from a progressive or center-left perspective, free from the direct influence of major
established Main Street Media.

  • Elon Musk Affects Social Security Customer Service

    Do you ever get frustrated when you call a business and end up on hold for what feels like an eternity? All you want is to speak to a real person who can help you with your issue or answer your question. Well, brace yourself because Elon Musk’s team is putting pressure at Social Security to end phone service for customers. 

    The Social Security Administration is considering cutting back on phone services that 73 million retired Americans rely on. So, get cozy in your chair because a simple question could have you waiting all day or listening to a never-ending busy signal. The agency is thinking about ending phone services for processing claims and bank transactions, pushing elderly individuals to visit field offices in person to access their benefits, that’s if there are any left after Trump/Musk finishes cutting most of the federal government. 

    Current and former officials are concerned that this change will disrupt the agency’s operations and its ability to serve the public. The toll-free number provided by Social Security is a lifeline for older Americans who may not have internet access or struggle with navigating the web.

    Initially, DOGE staffers were worried about fraudulent benefits going to deceased individuals. However, it turns out that the agency’s outdated technology system made it seem like impossibly old people were still receiving benefits. No fraud, just some computer code that the little bros didn’t quite grasp.

    “It seems like they’re trying to dismantle the agency to benefit their billionaire buddies,” said Martin O’Malley, who previously led the agency under Joe Biden. “And of course, Trump will probably come out with his next lie about how he would never touch Social Security. Watch out, he’s coming for it!”

  • EU Retaliatory Tariffs

    Here we go again with new tariffs! The stock market took a hit last week, and now some of our closest security partners in the European Union are retaliating with their own trade actions. They are imposing new duties on U.S. industrial and farm products in response to the Trump administration’s decision to increase tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 25%.

    The EU’s measures will affect goods from the United States worth a staggering 26 billion euros ($28 billion). These tariffs won’t just target steel and aluminum products, but also textiles, home appliances, and agricultural goods. Specifically, they are aimed at products made in Republican-held states, such as beef and poultry from Kansas and Nebraska, and wood products from Alabama and Georgia. So, MAGA world, get ready to pay the price for your misguided support of Trump.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU “will always remain open to negotiation.” However, in response to the U.S. tariffs, the EU is implementing countermeasures worth 26 billion euros. The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU warned that these tariffs will harm jobs, prosperity, and security on both sides of the Atlantic.

    The new tariffs will cost companies billions of dollars and increase uncertainty in two of the world’s major trade partnerships. Companies will either absorb the losses and see reduced profits, or more likely, pass the costs on to consumers in the form of higher prices. This will lead to increased prices in both Europe and the United States, putting jobs at risk.

    Is this really what voters expected? It’s time to rethink our trade policies and work towards mutually beneficial agreements. Let’s prioritize job creation, economic growth, and stability for all parties involved.

    Maybe tell Trump to retake Economics 101 because he really has not got a clue. 

  • The Truth Behind Trump’s Dairy (Tariffs) Misinformation

    We have become accustomed to President Trump’s falsehoods, but some may attribute his inaccuracies to his age and forgetfulness. One such instance is the dairy agreement he supposedly made with Canada during his last term in office.

    Let us clarify the misinformation surrounding the dairy issue. Here are the facts: President Trump has claimed that Canada imposes tariffs exceeding 200% on dairy products imported from the US. However, he conveniently fails to mention a crucial detail.

    These high tariffs only apply after the US surpasses a specific quantity of tariff-free dairy sales negotiated by (in his first term) Trump each year. The US dairy industry itself acknowledges that the US has not reached its allowed zero-tariff maximum in any dairy product category, including milk!

    Furthermore, President Trump falsely asserted that Canadian dairy tariffs increased under President Biden’s administration. In reality, official Canadian documents and industry groups on both sides of the border confirm that Canada did not raise its dairy tariffs under President Biden. The tariffs Trump criticized were actually maintained by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade deal negotiated and signed by Trump in 2018.

    The US Department of Agriculture website notes that under the previous North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), almost all US agricultural exports to Canada faced no tariffs or quotas. The USMCA preserved this zero-tariff, zero-quota trade while providing greater US access to select Canadian markets governed by supply management.

    Canada is the second-largest export market for US dairy products, with approximately $1.1 billion in sales in 2024. Trump seems to forget or maybe it’s just he can’t remember?

  • S&P 500 Plummets: Economic Woes Under Trump

    The S&P 500 took a nosedive of 2.7% this week, inching closer to being 9% below its recent all-time high. It’s like watching a rollercoaster, but with your retirement savings. At one point, the S&P 500 was down a whopping 3.6%, heading towards its worst day since 2022. Remember 2022? Ah, the good old days of high inflation and recession fears that never quite materialized.

    Trump, the man of promises. He pledged to fix the economy, lower inflation, and even promised cheaper eggs. Well, surprise, surprise – prices are up, and the only thing going down is the stock market. It’s like a magic trick, but instead of pulling a rabbit out of a hat, we’re pulling our hair out over the economy.

    The signs of economic weakness are as clear as day, with surveys showing increased pessimism and indicators suggesting the U.S. economy might be shrinking. But fear not, for Trump is here to reassure us with his vague statements about wealth and transition. It’s all a part of the grand plan, apparently. Just give it a little time, folks.

    And let’s not forget the companies feeling the pinch of our economic woes. Carnival and United Airlines are taking hits, as people tighten their purse strings and opt for staycations over cruises. Thanks, Trump, for making America’s economy great again.

    So, to all those who voted for Trump thinking he was the answer to our economic prayers – congratulations, you played yourself. Turns out, snake oil salesmen don’t make the best presidents.

  • A Penny wise and a Pound foolish … IRS Cuts

    The saying goes “a penny wise and a pound foolish.” Maybe immigrant Elon Musk isn’t familiar with this good old American saying, but he should be.

    DOGE’s cuts to the IRS threaten to cost more than DOGE will ever save. The Trump administration believes that slashing federal agencies will save money, but reducing the IRS means the government will collect fewer taxes.

    Unlike other federal agencies, cutting the IRS results in less money collected and fewer tax abuses uncovered. Economic studies have shown that for every dollar spent by the IRS, the agency returns between $5 and $12, depending on the taxpayer’s declared income. A 2024 report by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office revealed that the IRS saved $13,000 for every additional hour spent auditing the tax returns of wealthy taxpayers – a return on investment that would make Wall Street hedge fund managers jealous, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

    The Trump administration’s strategy to shrink the government has been haphazard and widespread, aiming to remove civil servants quickly from as many agencies as possible while demoralizing those who remain. ProPublica discovered that the recent IRS layoffs included highly skilled probationary workers who had recently joined the government or moved from another agency.

    In late February, the Trump administration began firing over 6,000 IRS employees. The agency has been hit hard because it spent 2023 preparing to hire thousands of new enforcement and customer service personnel, only beginning to hire and train them on a large scale in 2024. “Large businesses and wealthy individuals, “like Trumps friends”, are where you find the most sophisticated taxpayers, tax preparers, and lawyers who push the boundaries as much as possible. Well we could guess he wants to protect them not the middle class.

  • Trump is leading the US Economy into Recession

    With his flurry of tariffs, government layoffs, and spending freezes, President Donald Trump seems to be stirring up more trouble for the U.S. economy than actually fixing it. The economic policy uncertainty index has shot up by a whopping 41% since January, reaching a level of 334.5 – a number that historically spells out recession. If the ongoing policy chaos and tariff battles continue, we could be looking at the first recession in five years.

    The recent stock market selloff has left many questioning whether Trump’s tariffs will deliver on their promise of creating new jobs. “Markets anticipate,” says John Silvia, CEO of Dynamic Economic Strategy. “The path of tariffs is leading us down a dark alley towards higher inflation, slower economic growth, and a weaker U.S. dollar. It’s like watching an economic horror movie in slow motion.”

    And the plot thickens – more tariffs are on the horizon for Europe on April 2, potentially sparking a trade war with a continent the U.S. once helped rebuild after World War II. South Korea, India, and Brazil could also find themselves in the crosshairs of new tariffs.

    Businesses are feeling the heat too, with increased economic uncertainty and worries about the impact of tariffs. The Fed’s New York branch reported that businesses are becoming less optimistic about the future.

    It’s becoming increasingly clear that Trump’s economic policies are steering us towards a downturn, and it seems like he may be doing more harm than good for the U.S. economy. 

  • Speaker Johnson’s hypocritical censure of Rep. Al Green

    Speaker Johnson’s hypocritical censure of Rep. Al Green has sparked outrage among those who value dissent as a crucial aspect of our democracy. Congressman Al Green is simply doing his job – representing the concerns of his constituents, fighting for the rights of the American people, and upholding our democratic system, regardless of the consequences. The faux outrage from Republicans is tiresome and transparent.

    Where was this decorum when Marjorie Taylor Greene repeatedly heckled President Biden during his State of the Union addresses? The lack of consequences for her actions is glaring. And what about Elon Musk’s blatant disregard for Congress, resulting in the firing of thousands of federal employees and the dismantling of programs that millions of Americans rely on? The hypocrisy is sickening.

    The contrast between the treatment of Rep. Al Green and Marjorie Taylor Greene is stark. Green, a vocal critic of the president was removed from the House floor for disrupting Trump’s address, while Greene faced no consequences for her repeated interruptions during President Biden’s speech. It’s a missed opportunity for the Democratic Party to show solidarity with Green.

    Green’s commitment to his principles is unwavering. He believes that Trump’s budget cuts to Medicaid are unacceptable and that the president lacks a mandate to make such drastic changes. His dedication to standing up for the most vulnerable in our society is commendable.

    The hypocrisy and double standards in Congress with the republic majority must be called out. 

  • Trump’s Golfing is a Taxpayer Burden

    While Elon Musk is busy cutting slashing jobs, Donald Trump is out on the golf course, spending taxpayer money like it’s going out of style. Trump’s golfing habit has cost American taxpayers over $18 million since he took office, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Today marks his 13th day on the golf course out of his first 48 days in office – priorities, right?

    Not only does Trump insist on playing golf at his Florida courses, but he also makes sure to arrive in style on Air Force One, with his motorcade vehicles being flown in on military transports. Because, you know, nothing says “fiscal responsibility” like a fleet of vehicles being airlifted for a golf outing.

    Meanwhile, as Musk is making “illegal” decisions and cutting jobs, many are veterans, Trump is living it up on the green. Priorities, people. Priorities.

  • Debunking Trump’s Claims on Transgender Mice

    During his address to Congress, Trump mistakenly confused transgenic mice with transgender mice, raising concerns about his understanding of what he is saying.  It appears that no one is fact-checking his statements, or perhaps Grampa Trump was simply confused or uninformed. This is particularly alarming considering he has control over the nuclear button!

    Transgenic mice, also known as genetically modified mice, are mice whose genomes have been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These mice are commonly used in research as models for human diseases and to study genes. The NIH recognized the significance of this technology in 1994, noting its impact on various fields of biology.

    In a bizarre turn of events, Trump mentioned Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency during his speech, claiming the organization found wasteful spending in the federal budget, including $8 million allegedly spent on making mice transgender. This absurd statement was made on live television, highlighting the lack of understanding behind the proposed budget cuts.

    It is concerning that major decisions affecting federal agencies and employees are being made without proper research or consideration. It seems that when you vote for the clown, you also get the circus. Let’s hope for more informed and responsible leadership in the future!

  • Is Trump’s Economy Heading for a Recession?

    Economic Warning !!

    Trump inherited a thriving economy, with wages, consumer spending, and corporate profits all on the rise. Unemployment was at record lows. However, just over a month into his term, the outlook has taken a dark turn. The stock market is in turmoil, layoffs are increasing, and forecasters are slashing their growth estimates. Some even predict a potential shrink in the U.S. gross domestic product in the first quarter.

    Under Trump’s current policies, we are on the brink of a recession. His decisions have created uncertainty, with tariffs and trade wars threatening to raise prices and slow growth. Federal job cuts are looming, which could lead to higher unemployment rates and decreased spending. Deportations may drive up costs for industries reliant on immigrant labor.

    The chaos surrounding Trump’s economic policies is evident. Tariffs are announced and then delayed, government workers are hired and fired in a never-ending cycle. This lack of planning is detrimental to the economy.

    Trump’s policies will hinder economic growth, take money out of people’s pockets, and increase unemployment rates. Veterans and regions heavily reliant on federal jobs will be hit the hardest. Trump’s track record of bankruptcies and dishonesty about his net worth only adds to the uncertainty.

    Trump’s policies are detrimental to America and its citizens. His lack of understanding and chaotic decision-making are leading us towards an economic downturn. The future looks bleak under his leadership.