Blue Press Journal

Tag: Trump administration

  • Fuel, Folly, and Fatal Miscalculation: How This Administration is Breaking the Economy and Betraying Allies

    By Winston Wendell (Opinion)

    How This Presidency Hurts the Economy and Bets Against Allies

    Let’s dispense with the spin. The current administration’s foreign policy isn’t just failing; it is a masterclass in catastrophic recklessness.

    While Ukrainian forces were attacking Russian oil refineries in the summer of 2025, gradually draining the Russian economy of fuel, this administration was busy wrecking the American economy in the Persian Gulf. President Trump’s disastrous war with Iran, which began on February 28, not only devastated the country’s economy but also caused diesel prices to skyrocket over $3.81 to a punishing $6.19 per gallon at some gas stations.

    It should be noted that, according to EIA data, the war in Ukraine had little impact on American fuel prices, so the culprit for soaring prices should be looked for in the troubles of the Persian Gulf.

    At the time of the American attack, Trump’s attack, on Iran, Zelensky noted that the American action threatened to choke off the strait, which explains the increase in fuel prices.

    But what does this administration do to sabotage a friendly and democratic state such as Ukraine, which is being squeezed from two sides by Russia’s aggressiveness and America’s incompetence? Deliberately disrupting Starlink data transmission in military Ukrainian bases, SpaceX cuts off part of the lifeblood of Ukraine’s defense. By doing this, Elon Musk has once again shown the world who is really in charge of President Trump: “Who is responsible for Starshield restrictions? The US Army, and therefore the President of the USA.”

    It is difficult to understand what else to call this other than fraudulent. Fuel prices in the United States are rising due to the policy of an incompetent president, and at the same time, the administration is deliberately narrowing the possibilities of a friendly country in the war with Russia, deliberately provoking new disasters for itself and the country.

  • How the GOP’s Favorite Law Is Coming Back to Bite Them

    by Winston Wendell

    When lawmakers Republicans and President Trump promoted the OBBB (One Big Beautiful Bill) law in the last year, they did so with great pride. However, one of the provisions in the law has proved to be a double-edged sword. Specifically, the gift of $70 billion in tax breaks to the data centers has caused serious issues for the ruling party.

    Aerial view of a technology campus with satellite dishes at sunset

    The OBBB act contains a provision called “Full expensing for certain business property”. The clause has proved to be a blessing for corporations that build data centers. It appears that this structural decision has made the politicians to face a backlash from the communities where data centers are being planned. A recent research conducted by the progressive think tank Data for Progress indicates that there is a serious issue brewing in communities across the U.S.

    The research involved a poll that was conducted among voters across the U.S. Based on the results, 69% of the respondents are opposed to the construction of data centers in their communities. Moreover, the majority of respondents from both political parties are concerned that the data centers’ infrastructure would pose a threat to the electrical grid.

    Democrats have compiled some damning advertisements directed against the Trump-supporting Republicans. The ads make it clear that the tax breaks for data centers have come at the expense of the consumers. One of the ads that targeted the governor of Wisconsin indicates that the voters should not be the ones to pay for the Trump agenda.

    It appears that the tax breaks for data centers were a blessing for the construction companies and tech giants. However, for the Republicans, their decision proved to be a liability as it impacted negatively the voters’ opinions about them.

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  • Federal Watchdogs Take On Trump Ads as Illegal Propaganda

    A complaint against the Trump administration was filed on Tuesday with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It claims that the Trump’s recent government-funded television advertisements are illegal because they violate federal laws banning public funding of political propaganda.

    The petition asks the FCC and the FTC to demand that television channels stop broadcasting these commercials and warns that continuing to do so will make the stations “liable for playing ads that violate federal law.” According to Lisa Gilbert, co-president of the Public Citizen, “It’s stunning that the administration not only ignored last week’s anti-American ad but doubled down by running a second taxpayer-funded piece during the heavily watched Sunday football games. These illegal ads should be taken off the air immediately and the White House’s many violations should be investigated.”

    Besides the FCC and the FTC, the organization asked the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Special Counsel to review whether the administration violated the Hatch Act and other laws.

    What do the ads say and how are they paid for?

    Three different advertisements, all of which include the disclaimer “Paid for by the U.S. Government,” started to air last week. They began airing on Fox News and later started to appear during NFL and college football games and on Newsmax, a conservative-leaning cable channel. In total, the government spent over $1 million on the ads, according to the Wall Street Journal. The money was allocated from the Customs and Border Protection budget, which does not have any apparent connection to the content of the advertisements.

    One of the ads includes the voice of former President Trump, who claims that “America will never become a communist country,” and a commentary by UFC President Dana White, who calls Trump “the toughest, most resilient person I’ve ever met,” set to the rhythm of the song “Love me.” Another ad is similar to the campaign’s video depicting Trump for the 2024 presidential election. It includes Trump’s speech: “We’re gonna liberate our country from these villains,” referring to “sick political class that hates our nation” and “fake news media.”

    The third video, which includes a narration by Trump, juxtaposes scenes of Mount Rushmore and claims that “Our administration marks the beginning of America’s golden age.” The White House’s argument counters the allegations that the ads are illegal. The White House argues that these are public service announcements similar to those used by other presidents to encourage citizens to enroll in the Affordable Care Act.

    According to the White House, the ads are justified since they “inform the public about important government services and programs.” However, According to Public Citizen, the ads “contain no legitimate government message; are aimed at influencing the presidential election; and therefore violate numerous statutes, including the prohibition on using federal funds for campaign propaganda and the Hatch Act.”

    Representatives from both sides agree that the ads carry a message that favors the president and his party and can damage the reputation of the government in the eyes of the public. At the same time, according to the complaint, “None of the ads mention any government program or attempt to explain how government works. Each ad seeks to promote the private interests of Donald Trump and advance the political interests of the Republican Party by manipulating the electorate ahead of the 2026 mid-term elections.”

    A bipartisan opinion on the issue

    Apart from progressive organizations, even some Republicans were concerned about the ads. Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, was apparently surprised by the videos. “I hate it. It reminds me of Viktor Orbán and the people in Hungary. There’s no way to do that here.” Senator John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, stated, “The message is fine. Pity it is paid for by the taxpayers.”

    Can the complaint against Trump’s ads lead to any changes?

    Probably not, considering that the heads of both the FCC and the FTC are Trump appointees, and the President himself has repeatedly accused these agencies of being out of control. On the other hand, the Supreme Court has upheld presidential authority to remove officials from government positions for refusing to carry out presidential orders. All of this suggests that there is a real danger that the budget funds allocated to the advertisers will be reallocated to propaganda.

  • MS NOW Reporter Barred From White House, Joins CNN and Politico in Access Dispute

    Washington, D.C., Sept. 24 — A federal judge’s order to restore White House press credentials for three news outlets has been ignored, as MSNBC correspondent  Laura Barron‑Lopez was denied entry on Thursday, mirroring recent turn‑aways of CNN and Politico journalists.

    Update: 10:20am est.

    A reporter for the online outlet MS NOW was turned away from the White House press entrance on Thursday, bringing the media outlet into a growing dispute over access that already includes correspondents from CNN and Politico.

    Laura Barron‑Lopez, a senior reporter for the news outlet, said she arrived at the Press Briefing building, swiped her badge at the security checkpoint and watched the indicator turn red before being stopped by a uniformed security guard.

    “I got as far as the press pass security hut, swiped my badge, and the light started flashing red,” Barron‑Lopez told reporters after the incident. “The guard told me I could not proceed and escorted me off the premises.”

    Her experience mirrors that of a CNN reporter and a Politico correspondent, both of whom were denied entry his morning under the same circumstances.

    MS NOW, CNN and Politico have scheduled a joint press conference for Thursday afternoon to discuss the broader implications of the White House’s security procedures on media freedom.

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  • Trump’s AI Gambit: Public Land for Private Profit

    by Winston Wendell

    Donald Trump has pursued one scandalous policy after another in his second term. One of the latest initiatives that perfectly represents the president’s disregard for the public interest in favor of big business. In essence, the policy allows big tech companies to score a decade-long billion-dollar tax break by building AI data centers on public lands.

    Future of Technology Summit; Artificial Intelligence; man speaks with humanoid robot

    One commentator has summarized the issue by noting that tax breaks are nothing more than a “windfall” given to big tech companies. Indeed, a separate fiscal analysis report noted that thanks to new Trump administration rules, major technology companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, would benefit enormously from being able to “accelerate the depreciation of data center equipment.”Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, Netflix, Apple, and Microsoft collectively pay an average effective tax rate of 18.8%, far below what the average American pays in taxes.

    Environmentalists  have pointed out that the policy is short-sighted because it will fuel the American west’s newest land-use fights. For example, ranchers, farmers, conservationists, and indigenous peoples’ representatives from a significant number of western states, including Utah, Nevada, and Montana, have raised concerns about the environmental impact of technology giants building their data centers in the region. The companies would use huge amounts of water to cool the data centers and would have to build new power lines and roads, disrupting local wildlife.

    Trump’s initiative on AI is counterproductive because it fails to acknowledge the fact that cutting big tech companies’ taxes will reduce the resources for critical social programs that support the American middle class. Furthermore, the technology companies have more than enough money to research and develop innovative AI technologies without taxing the public.

    The Trump administration and Donald Trump has pursued a policy that hurts the public, benefits corporations, and will destroy the environment.

  • Sweeping 2030 US Census Changes Proposed by Trump Administration Spark Outrage and Legal Warning

    by Winston Wendell

    When I first read about the changes to the 2030 census proposed by the Trump administration, I knew it would make national headlines and turn into a political scandal. The provisions under consideration would exclude millions of people from being counted, change the funding formula, and favor redistricting that benefits Republicans.

    Census representative helping resident complete a questionnaire at home

    I want to discuss what the changes mean and explain why they have caused such a stir in Washington, DC.

    The Substance of the 2030 Census Changes

    The provisions that the Trump administration wants to see in the 2030 census report are of a radical nature. Here are some key changes that the government wants to make:

    • Redefining “usual residence” as the place of “primary physical presence” during the year of the census. The administration would use income-tax filings and W-2 tax forms to determine a person’s “primary physical presence”
    • Excluding undocumented immigrants and legal residents who do not have residency on April 1, 2030, from the count. The 2020 census count included all foreigners, legal and illegal. The reasoning behind this provision is that it is an unconstitutional interpretation of “whole number of persons”
    • Removing questions on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. The rationale is that it is outside the constitutional powers of the federal government to collect this information.

    To justify excluding non-citizens from the count, the administration has interpreted “whole number of persons” to mean “inhabitants” that have a “qualified” relationship with the political system. It is worth noting that many of these policies have been advocated by President Trump and the Heritage Foundation in Project 2025, a document outlining policies that a Republican administration would implement through executive orders.

    Reaction to the Trump Census Proposal

    Not surprisingly, the proposals have been met with derision and outright condemnation from Democrats and civil libertarians.

    The argument that only “qualified” persons should be counted is an assault on the equal sovereignty of every American citizen that goes against the spirit and intent of the Constitution.

    Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, called the proposals “a radical revision of the US Census” and said that she was considering taking legal action to block the changes because of their “unpatriotic” nature.

    In the past, Ms. James has successfully sued to block similar changes to the census, and she will undoubtedly take similar actions in the future. Ms. James stated, “The Constitution says what the Constitution says. Every person who is present in the United States should be counted, period,”

    Mr. Roberts of the Center for American Progress reacted to the proposal by saying that it was “a blatant attack on our democracy and a means to gerrymander our way to victory at the expense of minorities and public policy.”

    Mr. Roberts added that he expected litigation to challenge the new changes and that the Court would eventually rule on whether the changes were constitutional or not.

    He concluded, “Congress is the only body that can decide if this change is appropriate or not. Nevertheless, the public will have thirty days to respond to the request for comments and express their opinions on the issue.”

  • The GAO Finds That DOGE Budget Reports Were Misleading

    NEWS REPORT by Winston Wendell

    According to a report released on Thursday, the Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE, led by Elon Musk himself, was making up figures about the amount of money it was saving the country. The report was requested by Democratic senators Gary Peters of Michigan and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and was conducted by the Government Accountability Office.

    DOGE was found to have used “misleading practices” when it came to canceled leases and active government contracts. Additionally, the audit found that the department provided insufficient evidence for the methods used in 96 percent of the canceled grants.

    The Department of Government Efficiency was also found to have failed to follow their own formulas when it came to calculating figures for canceled leases and contracts, and in the cases where they did follow their formulas, they either missed out on the details or did not disclose them when they should have. When they did follow their own procedures, the Government Accountability Office found that they overlooked the complexities of government contracts, including liabilities and penalties that come with breaking a contract before the due date.

    “The report shows that the Trump administration’s cost-saving mission was conducted in a misleading fashion, achieving little apart from putting at risk taxpayer data and key programs,” said Senator Peters.

    “President Trump and his allies in the Senate and House have been using DOGE as a fig leaf to hide tax-cut giveaways to the wealthy and large corporations while pretending to save the deficit,” said Senator Blumenthal.

    Many people have responded to the report, including Jessica Tillipman, associate dean of the GWU School of Law, who specializes in government procurement. Tillipman cited several errors she found on the social media accounts of DOGE, one of which being a claim that the department had saved $28 million reduction in expenditures for an Air Force agreement, whereas the actual financial relief amounted to roughly $600,000 from a canceled lease. “That figure doesn’t account for the present value of future lease payments, which would reduce the supposed $3.7 million savings,” Tillipman said.

    “DOGE’s fiscal wins were mostly fictional,” write Reason editor-in-chief Eric Boehm, who covered the story for the libertarian magazine. “According to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, the Trump administration’s claims about savings from slashing federal spending were often based on faulty math.”

    “DOGE may soon start spending more taxpayer money, but at least the government watchdogs are forcing Musk’s agency to be more open about how it spends our money when it comes to cutting back federal services,” concluded Senator Blumenthal.

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  • Rising Gas Prices: What It Means for Everyday Americans

    by Winston Wendell

    Every time I see the numbers ticking higher at my local gas station, I get the strangest sense of déjà vu. We’ve gone through these price spikes before, but this time it feels heavier somehow, almost suffocating. The rising military tension with Iran, which has taken center stage for the Trump administration, isn’t just a headline; it’s merging with everyday life, impacting budgets and cranking up stress for millions across the country.

    This isn’t just another blip, it’s a shift you can feel in the air. CNBC says economic anxiety hasn’t hit these heights since the inflation surge right after the pandemic in late 2023. People are tired, and honestly, the numbers just back up what everyone feels.

    The Grim Reality Behind the Figures

    The CNBC All-America Economic Survey doesn’t pull any punches. Sixty-one percent of people are now pretty pessimistic about the country’s financial future. Only around a quarter are still holding out hope.

    So, what’s really lighting this fire? It’s basic stuff. Anyone in line at the grocery store or waiting to fuel up will tell you, it’s all about the cost of just getting by. Food and gas aren’t minor expenses anymore, they’re completely reworking how people live.

    Sacrificing the Basics

    This squeeze is making people choose between necessities. The latest survey hits hard:

    Almost half of Americans (47%) are skimping on essentials, things like medical care, groceries, everyday basics, just to keep their heads above water.

    Two out of three have slashed anything extra. The empty restaurants and quiet movie theaters are proof enough that people are choosing survival over fun.

    Policy-Driven Discontent

    Frustration is clear, and it’s pointed straight at the White House. Right now, President Trump’s handling of the economy gets just 38% approval, with about 60% giving him a thumbs down.

    The administration’s approach to Iran is just as divisive. Only 35% of voters support the military moves, while 63% are against them. The link between decisions overseas and money woes at home is starting to look obvious to everyone.

    The “Trauma” of Persistent Inflation

    So why does the anxiety stick around, even when prices dip for a while? Democratic pollster Jay Campbell put it plainly to CNBC: that brief break in gas prices earlier this year didn’t fix the “financial trauma” everyday people feel.

    Even when prices drop, nobody forgets what it felt like when they were sky-high for two years. That memory sticks, so small changes just don’t erase the frustration.

    What the Pump Is Telling Us

    AAA backs this up with tough stats. Last Friday, the national average for a gallon of regular gas hit $3.98, a ten-cent jump in just a week. Diesel’s hitting even harder, climbing past $5 per gallon and putting more pressure on the folks who keep the trucks and supply chains running.

    Implications for Washington

    Even with all these grim numbers, the political fallout is, for now, kind of muted. Democrats still have a slight four-point edge for Congress, but Campbell warns there’s no massive political wave building, not yet.

    But things feel shaky. With the Iran conflict not cooling down and people’s savings evaporating, anxiety is running high. Folks across the country are just holding their breath, wondering if the costs of Trump’s foreign policy will end up outweighing the price of keeping things steady at home.

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  • One Year Later: The One Big Beautiful Bill’s Devastating Toll on America’s Working Class

    Donald Trump signing tax cuts and jobs bill in Oval Office with speech bubble saying tax cuts are here

    A closer look at how landmark legislation signed by President Trump has enriched the wealthy while leaving millions of vulnerable Americans behind

    by Winston Wendell

    When President Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last year, his fans cheered for sweeping change. And they sort of got it—just not for everyone. If you’re in one of America’s wealthiest families, you’re probably thrilled. For most people, though, it’s a different story.

    I’ve been following this law since day one, and every new report just confirms what a lot of folks feared. Defend America Action laid out the numbers for Common Dreams, and it’s pretty clear: the richest are cashing in, while working-class Americans are stuck on the sidelines.

    The numbers tell their own story, and—wow. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy says the richest 1% will get $117 billion in tax breaks by 2026, which averages out to about $66,000 per wealthy household. Meanwhile, if you add up all the tax breaks for the bottom 60% of earners, their total doesn’t even match what one rich person gets. And with prices creeping up and surprise fees stacking on, a whole lot of working families are actually worse off.

    Nobody’s really surprised. Critics just call it the same old playbook: benefits for corporations and the ultra-rich, scraps (if that) for everyone else.

    But it’s not just about paychecks. Healthcare’s taken a beating, too. The law chopped more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. We’re already feeling it—a year later, Medicaid enrollment has dropped by 3.8 million people. Experts predict 15 million could lose coverage by 2034.

    The Affordable Care Act marketplace is a mess. Premiums have more than doubled. One out of every five people on ACA plans has already dropped coverage. If you’re buying insurance yourself, you’ll shell out over a third more than before. More than 8 million folks have lost health insurance so far, and it’s not slowing down.

    It’s not just about national numbers, either. Take Nevada—about 100,000 people there could lose Medicaid coverage. That’s 22,000 in one congressional district alone.

    Then there’s food assistance. The bill ripped $187 billion from SNAP, the program that helps people buy food. Four million people—kids and seniors included—have already lost that support, and the hurdles to keep benefits are higher than ever. Young adults are getting hit especially hard. They’re losing food help even though steady jobs are still tough to find.

    Clean energy took a major blow, too. When Congress gutted clean energy tax credits, hundreds of projects vanished. That cost around 140,000 jobs and scared off $69 billion in investment. Now consumers are facing an extra $92 billion in energy bills, and dirty, expensive energy is all that’s left for many.

    Electric vehicles? Same story. Killing off the $7,500 EV tax credit tanked sales. So, people stick with less efficient cars that cost more to run—especially with gas prices climbing, thanks in part to foreign policy headaches.

    Jared Bernstein—a former White House adviser—didn’t sugarcoat it: ditching clean energy isn’t just about falling behind, it’s about giving that lead away to China. “This isn’t China just eating our lunch. This is us serving our lunch to them,” he said.

    People see what’s happening, and they’re not buying the spin. Just a few months after the bill passed, 55% disapproved, and only 31% were on board. Not much has shifted—today, just a third support it.

    Rep. Dina Titus from Nevada put it straight: “They’re always up for cutting programs. They call it fraud, waste, and abuse, but it’s not. It’s benefits people needed.”

    With the midterms coming, it’s tough to hide the fallout. The law really did change America, just like they promised—but not for the better, and definitely not for most of us.

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  • The Unattainable Dream: How the Trump Administration’s Policies Have Crushed the American Dream

    by Winston Wendell

    Family with two children and a golden retriever playing on the front lawn of a blue house with an American flag

    Reading the latest report from the Roosevelt Institute, I can’t help but feel disheartened. The report lays out a grim reality. America is tumbling into economic turmoil, with most people too discouraged even to imagine life getting any better. This is what we’ve inherited from the Trump administration: a government that chipped away at the very idea of the American Dream.

    Elizabeth Wilkins, who leads the Roosevelt Institute, gets straight to the point: “We’re not just asking if people can afford the basics, but if they can afford the things that give life meaning and purpose… We’re talking about a sense of security, of being able to plan for the future, of being able to enjoy the fruits of your labor.” For most Americans now, these aren’t real aspirations, they’re just distant illusions.

    The numbers are hard to stomach. Only 20% of Americans feel any sense of income security. That leaves an overwhelming 80% stuck worrying about their finances today or down the road. Over a third—35%—have simply stopped trying to save because keeping up with the basics is all-consuming. That says it all. The system is set up to benefit the wealthy few, and the rest are picking over what’s left.

    Wilkins puts it bluntly: “The problem is not just economic; it’s also about fairness and the sense that the system is rigged… People see the yawning gap between the haves and have-nots, and it fills them with frustration and anger.” No wonder trust in politicians has fallen off a cliff. People watch Donald Trump cater to billionaires while ignoring everyone else.

    Even though cynicism runs deep, people still want the government to do something. Programs like universal healthcare, affordable childcare, and free public colleges still get strong support. So, even if people are fed up, they’re not out of hope, they still believe a better future is possible, though Trump Administration keeps failing to deliver it.

    Now that we’re facing the fallout of Trump’s policies, something has to give. Everyone can see that the current path is a dead end. The big question is, will those in power Trump and the GOP Congress, finally admit that the system is broken? Or are they just going to keep maintaining this slow grinding decline that kills hope and opportunity for most people?