After a dip in January, consumer confidence is coming back. ebruary’s Consumer Confidence Index rose to 91.2, beating forecasts.
he Expectations Index—how Americans view the next six months—also posted a solid gain.
And expectations improve before spending accelerates.
The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 91.2 in February, up from an upwardly revised 89 the month before. While still subdued, the increase suggests a slight stabilization after January’s sharp drop. A measure of short-term expectations for income, business conditions, and the labor market climbed four points to 72. That figure remains well below 80 — a level often viewed as a recession warning signal — marking the 13th straight month below that threshold.
According to the Conference Board’s February survey, Americans also showed greater willingness to spend on big-ticket items in the months ahead. Plans to purchase used cars, furniture, televisions, and smartphones increased. Expectations for home buying were largely unchanged — unsurprising given that February is typically a slower period for housing, which has struggled through a prolonged downturn.
Associated Press: The American consumer’s confidence in the U.S. economy improved slightly in February after cratering a month earlier. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 91.2 in February from an upwardly revised 89 last month. A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market rose four points to 72, remaining well below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead. It’s the 13th consecutive month that reading has come in under 80…. According to the Conference Board’s February survey, consumers’ plans to buy big-ticket items over the next six months rose, with plans to buy used cars, furniture, TVs, and smartphones leading the way. Home-buying expectations were little changed in February, generally a slow time for the housing market, which has been mired in a yearslong slump.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/HOTTER-THAN-EXPECTED.jpeg370640The Geller Reporthttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngThe Geller Report2026-02-27 05:04:362026-02-27 05:05:42“HOTTER THAN EXPECTED”: Consumer Confidence Is UP in February
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump must obtain congressional approval before imposing new tariffs, a decision that significantly reshapes U.S. trade policy.
The 6-3 ruling is expected to have political and economic repercussions heading into the midterm elections—and might ultimately work to the Republican Party’s advantage, according to a veteran pollster.
Scott Rasmussen, founder of the Napolitan Institute, said the court’s decision aligns with public sentiment.
“We polled this consistently over the year, and 6 out of 10 voters tell us that of course congressional approval should be required for tariffs. That’s part of our system of checks and balances,” Rasmussen said Friday. “So, while many of the Trump base will be outraged, I think most of the voters will be comfortable with this decision.”
Voter Attitudes and Economic Concerns
Rasmussen’s polling also highlights mixed public perceptions of tariffs even before the court’s ruling.
“Before this ruling came down, 41% were saying these tariffs were good for the economy, 50% were saying they were bad,” he explained. “And 6 out of 10 were saying they raised prices and that they were adding to the immigration problem. We will obviously be following the fallout from the decision and polling next week.”
The decision effectively curtails one of Trump’s tools for shaping trade policy—a power he used to reshape U.S. trade relations with China, the European Union, and Mexico.
Political Fallout Ahead of the Midterms
When asked whether the ruling helps or hurts Republicans heading into the midterm elections, Rasmussen said the answer depends largely on the economic impact.
“It depends on what it does to the economy,” Rasmussen said. “If the economy does better, with tariffs off, that would be good news for the Republicans in two ways. First, as the economy does better, it’s better for the GOP. Second, the Supreme Court ruling is likely to enrage the Trump base and encourage their turnout at even higher levels. If you assume adjustment and provide good news for the economy, this could be a big plus for the GOP.”
What Comes Next
The Supreme Court ruling puts new pressure on Congress to take a more active role in trade policy—a task likely to be contentious given divisions within both parties.
Economists are watching closely to see whether easing tariffs will curb inflationary pressures or affect domestic industries that benefited from tariff protections.
Rasmussen and other analysts are expected to release new polling data next week measuring public reaction to the court’s decision and its potential influence on the political landscape.
He’s killing it. President Trump is addressing the World Economic Forum, the exclusive annual gathering of world leaders, policymakers and business figures in Davos, Switzerland.
CBS: The crowd of world leaders, business executives and others in Davos remained silent during the beginning of Mr. Trump’s address to the World Economic Forum, without clapping, as he described his transformation of the U.S. federal government and relations with Europe.
Trump took the stage at Davos, addressing, “so many friends, a few enemies,” he said.
“It’s a who’s who, I will say that,” he said.
Mr. Trump spoke in a measured tone as he described the “miracle taking place,” touting a long list of what he framed as his administration’s economic successes.
Economy:
“The United States is in the midst of the fastest and most dramatic economic turnaround in country’s history.”
Mr. Trump began his speech by touting the completion of his first year in office, and a “booming” economy. He noted stock market highs, economic growth and strong 401(k) growth.
“People are doing very well, they’re very happy with me,” he said.
Core inflation last 3 months: 1.6%
Q4 GDP projected: +5.4%
Trump: “Far greater than anyone other than myself predicted.”
Trump on the burgeoning US economy in Davos ‘Instead of hiring bureaucrats we’re firing them”
In 12 months, the Trump administration has removed 270K+ bureaucrats from the payroll, cut federal spending by $100B, slashed the federal budget deficit by 27%, cut 129 regulations for every ONE new regulation approved, passed the largest tax cuts in history, and so much more.
Tariffs:
Live blogging highlights:
“The USA is the economic engine of the planet, and when America booms, the entire world booms.
History shows that when America goes bad, the whole world goes bad.
When we go down, you follow us down. When we go up, you follow us up”
“I ended eight wars … and without trade and tariffs you wouldn’t have been able to end any of them … But they’ve brought hundreds of billions of dollars pouring into the United States Treasury…”
On Europe:
“Frankly, many parts of our world are being destroyed and the leaders don’t even UNDERSTAND what’s happening! And the ones that DO understand won’t do
“Certain places in Europe are not even recognizable anymore. And that’s not in a positive way. That’s in a very negative way. And I love Europe, and I want to see Europe go good. But it’s not heading in the right direction.”
Mr. Trump said he wanted to discuss in Davos, “how we want to raise living standards for our citizens,” and how European countries could emulate the U.S., because “certain places in Europe are not even recognizable.”
“I don’t want to insult anybody, and I say I don’t recognize it, and that’s not in a positive way. That’s in a very negative way. And I love Europe and I want to see Europe do good, but it’s not heading in the right direction.”
Mr. Trump said many Western governments had turned their back on, “everything that makes nations rich and powerful and strong.”
“Quite frankly, many parts of our world are being destroyed before our very eyes, and the leaders don’t even understand what’s happening, and the ones that do understand aren’t doing anything about it.”
On Crytpo:
“I’m also working to ensure America remains the Crypto Capital of the World… Congress is working very hard on Crypto market structure legislation, which I hope to sign very soon, unlocking new pathways for Americans to reach financial freedom.”
On windmills:
President Trump calld out the “stupid people” who support wind energy in Davos
“China is smart. They make windmills, sell ’em for a fortune, and sell ’em to the STUPID PEOPLE that buy them!”
Trump said, China builds them, sells them but they don’t use them. They don’t use windmill energy.
“Windmills all over Europe, all over the place, and they are LOSERS. One thing I’ve learned: the more windmills a country has, the more money that country LOSES. CHINA makes almost all the windmills, and yet I haven’t been able to find any wind farms in China!”
“The greatest HOAX in history, the Green New Scam. Windmills, destroy your land! Every time that goes around you lose $1,000. You’re supposed to MAKE money with energy, not LOSE money!”
Trump lauds his tariffs and says Venezuela will do “fantastically well”
Trump says his tariffs have enabled U.S. to “radically reduce our ballooning trade deficit”
The president touted his administration’s trade agreements with other countries, including European nations, Japan and South Korea, and said they “raise growth and cause stock markets to boom, not only in the U.S., but in virtually every country that came to make a deal. Because as you’ve learned, when the United States goes up, you follow.”
He said Venezuela has “got problems, but we’re helping them,” claiming that after the U.S. operation to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela will “be making more money than they’ve made in a long time. Venezuela is going to do fantastically well.”
“The attack ended and they said: ‘let’s make a deal,” Mr. Trump said.
Greenland:
Greenland is a vast, almost entirely uninhabited and undeveloped territory. It is sitting undefended in a key strategic location between the U.S., Russia, and China.
This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America — on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere.
It is a core national security interest of the U.S. — and in fact, has been our policy for hundreds of years to prevent outside threats from entering our hemisphere.
Donald J. Trump said that no country—and no alliance of countries—has the capacity to defend Greenland except the United States, arguing that the island’s security is inseparable from America’s own.
Speaking to a crowd, Trump opened with a light moment—joking about whether he should address Greenland—before turning serious. He said he holds “tremendous respect” for the people of Greenland and Denmark, but stressed that every NATO ally must be capable of defending its territory, something Greenland cannot do on its own.
Trump warned that the world is far more dangerous than it was in the past, citing advanced missile systems, nuclear threats, and emerging weapons “I can’t even talk about,” and argued that Greenland’s vulnerability makes it a strategic liability.
He rejected claims that U.S. interest in Greenland is about rare earth minerals, insisting instead that geography and security are decisive. Greenland, he said, is “an enormous, unsecured island” on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere—effectively part of North America—and therefore falls within America’s strategic responsibility.
“This isn’t about resources,” Trump made clear. “It’s about security.”
“This would not be a threat to NATO – this would greatly enhance the security of the entire alliance.”
“You need the ownership to defend it,” the president said. “You can’t defend it on a lease. Number one, legally it’s not defensible in that way, totally. And psychologically, who the hell wants to defend a license agreement or a lease?”
“All we want from Denmark for national and international security and to keep our very energetic and dangerous potential enemies at bay is this land on which we’re going to build the greatest golden dome ever built,” he said, referring to his plans for a missile defense system.
He then lashed out at Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, saying the U.S. would use ownership of Greenland to defend the neighboring country.
“Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. They should be grateful, but they’re not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful.”
Trump to Carney: “Canada lives because of us. Mark, remember that before you make those speeches.”
NATO:
President Trump says the US gives “so much” to NATO and gets “so little” in return.
Trump has said the US annexation of Greenland would “greatly enhance the security” of NATO.
He said the US was “treated very unfairly by NATO”.
“We give so much and we get so little in return,” he said.
Trump says NATO has never given America anything and now he’s calling in the debt.
“The problem with NATO is that we’ll be there for them, 100%, but I’m not sure they’ll be there for us,” Mr. Trump said. “They’re not there for us on Iceland [Greenland],” the president said, “I can tell you, our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland [Greenland].”
Mr. Trump said the U.S. had “never asked for anything else” apart from Greenland.
“You can say yes and we’ll be very appreciative, or you can say no and we will remember. A strong and secure America means a strong NATO, and that’s one reason why I’m working every day to ensure our military is very powerful, our borders are very strong, and above all our economy is strong, because national security requires economic security and economic prosperity.”
On credit card interest rates:
“The profit margin for credit card companies now exceeds 50%, and they charge Americans interest rates of 28%… So, to help our citizens recover from the Biden disaster… I’m asking Congress to cap credit card interest rates at 10% for one year.”
One year ago, Donald Trump took the Oath of Office to become the 47th President of the United States. There was an acute mixture of loathing and pure hatred along with hope and relief in that room. There were those present working to neuter Trump so they could collapse America into the global community and eliminate the strength America has represented for nearly 250 years since the Revolution gaining our independence and sovereignty. There were those present whose hearts beat with joy and hope that this man would restore American greatness (not American arrogance); hope that nations who chose could follow and even submit (cooperate) to America’s ideals; hope that Americans from coast-to-coast could once again celebrate the goodness, gifts and blessings this exceptional nation was granted by the Lord at our founding and rising to become the light on a hill other nations could emulate.
The picture above is that of the American eagle, our flag and two powerful military jets. This is a picture of strength and determination; not a wavering merely pretty picture but beautiful in addition to the power and majesty presented. Trump took the podium on his inauguration to state clearly to friend and foe alike, America is back! America’s strength, resolve, perseverance, depth of endurance is back! The establishment and globalists in that audience and across the world watching were angry beyond description. Their efforts to destroy this man and prevent his inauguration were temporarily sidelined, and they were seething behind smiles and public gestures of politeness. The past year has proven my point. The less than formal civil war to which we are engaged in is the planned ruination of America and minimizing President’s Trump’s influence, and there is more to come, even more brazenly and harmfully.
Let me be candid. Donald Trump does not walk on water; he is not perfect nor is he without presenting frustrations. But I strongly believe, like the men who sat in Independence Hall who debated, and formed our exceptional nation, they would not consider themselves heroes, but men placed in extraordinary circumstances that required extraordinary cooperation with what God was calling them to accomplish. Today in America, we need an army of such men and women willing to submit (cooperate) with the founding principles, not the present-day diluting and erasing taking place. We need people who will stand for truth as servant leaders with great courage and conviction to defend the documents and ideals that made this nation exceptional, unlike any other across the globe. We need ordinary heroes who are willing to pay the price to bring this nation back to our foundational principles.
One year ago today a businessman, not a life-long politician, was sworn into public office with the promise he would return American sovereignty, American stability financially and culturally. He swore to uphold the very Constitution our Forefathers fought for and gave so much for including their lives, their fortunes and their families. He asked if we would come along? Would we stand firm and resolute to allow the eagle to fly high representing strength and fierce determination? Would we fly our American Flag representing the union of states; the red stripes symbolizing valor, white stripes purity, the blue background representing vigilance, perseverance and justice? Would we pause and give thanks for the magnificent jets and military our nation produces giving assurance that we shall stand against evil no matter where, no matter whom, no matter when?
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/Trump-and-America.jpg424640Lyle J. Rapacki, Ph.D.http://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngLyle J. Rapacki, Ph.D.2026-01-21 15:30:032026-01-21 15:31:16Trump and America
As the 2026 midterm elections draw closer, the political stakes in Washington have rarely been higher. In a recent meeting with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill, President Donald Trump delivered a blunt message: if Republicans lose control of Congress, especially the House of Representatives, impeachment could return to the center of American politics.
That warning was more than political rhetoric. It reflected a broader reality acknowledged by many political scientists a Democratic-controlled House would significantly checkmate the president’s power, slowing or outright blocking much of his agenda through investigations, subpoenas, and legislative resistance.
With President Trump already exercising executive authority aggressively in his second term, the midterms now stand as a referendum not just on Congress, but on Trump’s presidency.
American Citizens are of the opinion that Republicans deserve to retain control of Congress based on Trump’s tangible accomplishments both at home at home and abroad.
At the top of the list is border security where ICE and federal agent are doing a fantastic job to fulfil the campaign promises of President Trump by sending illegal aliens out of the country. The administration points to a sealed border strategy, a crackdown on criminal aliens, and intensified efforts to stop drug smuggling into the United States as major wins for national security and public safety.
On the economic front, the White House Press secretary Karoline Leavitt highlights stable unemployment and inflation, along with lower gas prices, as signs of economic resilience. Workers have also benefited, supporters say, from lower taxes, while in abroad pressure on NATO allies has resulted in higher defense spending from member countries, reducing the financial burden on American taxpayers.
Law enforcement efforts have also taken center stage, crime suppression initiatives in Washington, D.C., and rising military recruitment numbers as evidence of restored confidence in national institutions.
Internationally, Foreign policy assertiveness, including a Gaza ceasefire with the help of Isreal and return of the all the hostages dead and living. Also covert l military operation in Caracas, Venezuela, which led to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his wife which they are currently facing trial in New York.
These actions signal American strength and deterrence on the world stage.
Unresolved Issues That Could Shape Voter Anger
Yet, despite these achievements, several unresolved issues remain front and center for voters and they may ultimately determine the outcome of the midterms.
Tariffs and trade policy continue to divide Americans, particularly businesses and consumers concerned about rising costs.
The Russia Ukraine war remains unresolved, fueling debate over U.S. involvement and long-term global stability.
Economic anxiety persists as well. National debt, trade competition with China, and rising prices for beef and groceries are straining household budgets. Many families are also grappling with high insurance rates, which continue to climb despite broader economic stabilization.
Public safety remains another concern. Chicago’s murder rate and violent crime in major cities have become recurring political flashpoints, raising questions about policing, prosecution, and federal versus local responsibility.
A Defining Moment for American Politics
As Election Day approaches, voters will be asked to weigh progress against problems, accomplishments against unresolved challenges. For Republicans, the mission is clear: hold Congress to protect the president’s agenda and prevent a return to impeachment politics. For Democrats, the goal is equally straightforward: win the House and Senate to reassert congressional oversight and limit executive power.
The 2026 midterms will not simply determine who controls Capitol Hill. They will decide whether President Trump governs with momentum or faces a hostile Congress determined to rein him in. In that sense, this election is not just about party politics — it is about the balance of power and the future direction of the United States.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/2026-Midterm-Elections.jpg360640Oladigbo Oluwasogo Olalekanhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngOladigbo Oluwasogo Olalekan2026-01-12 11:27:132026-01-12 11:33:37Why the 2026 Midterm Elections is important to Trump’s Presidency
The Republican Party has faced ongoing challenges in 2025, including economic pressures, immigration concerns, and criticism over inaction in Washington. Yet, under President Donald Trump’s leadership in early 2026, a renewed sense of optimism is emerging within the GOP.
New year, new party? Not exactly. While core issues like stagnant economy, border security, and bureaucratic gridlock persist, Trump’s decisive actions are creating momentum for progress and demonstrating the impact of strong leadership.
Take Venezuela as a prime example. U.S. forces conducted a successful operation, capturing former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and bringing them to the United States to face longstanding drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges. This bold move removed a hostile regime, enhancing American national security by disrupting alliances with adversaries like Iran, Russia, and China, as well as narco-trafficking networks.
Economically, Trump’s move will deliver immediate gains. Venezuelan officials have agreed to supply the U.S. with 30 to 50 million barrels of oil at market prices, stabilizing energy markets, reducing dependence on unreliable sources, and helping lower gas prices for Americans. The intervention showcases a president who is decisively committed to protecting U.S. interests.
Building on this momentum, Trump’s tariff policies are positioned to yield tangible benefits in 2026 as companies ramp up reshoring efforts to navigate the trade environment. While they appeared to be a drain on the American economy in 2025, these tariffs encourage domestic production, reversing years of offshoring that cost American jobs. Apple expanded U.S. facilities for products like iPads and Watches. Nvidia initiated major investments in chip manufacturing in Arizona and Texas. Intel and TSMC accelerated semiconductor plants in Ohio and Arizona. General Electric increased its domestic operations. Whirlpool announced expansions for domestic appliance production.
GE Appliances plans to shift production of refrigerators, gas ranges and water heaters out of China and Mexico as part of a more than $3 billion investment to expand its U.S. operations in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina.
These initiatives are driving a revival in American industry, generating higher-wage jobs, more resilient supply chains, and greater energy independence. As facilities become operational in 2026, communities in manufacturing centers will see real economic gains, reinforcing support for the GOP’s America First approach.
Further bolstering this trajectory is Trump’s firm response to fraud scandals, especially those involving Somali-operated programs in Minnesota, where billions in taxpayer funds were allegedly diverted in childcare and welfare schemes. The administration has deployed approximately 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis, frozen suspicious funding, and launched comprehensive investigations to uphold accountability. The focus on enforcing the law protects public resources for American citizens.
For Republicans, the Somali fraud scandal in Minnesota serves as a powerful unifying issue, galvanizing the party around a shared agenda to overhaul immigration policies, reform entitlement programs, and strengthen oversight mechanisms — all while reinforcing core commitments to fiscal responsibility and border security. The allegations involve billions in misused federal funds through childcare and welfare schemes, with the Justice Department charging 98 individuals, most of Somali origin, in what has been described as one of the largest fraud operations in U.S. history.
Win #10 – Minnesota Somali Fraud
As @nickshirleyy’s excellent reporting has revealed, Tim Walz’s Minnesota is rife with fraud.
To date, the DOJ has charged 98 total defendants—85 of Somali descent—in Medicaid fraud and related case programs. 64 defendants have been convicted so…
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) January 1, 2026
It allows the perfect opportunity for GOP leaders to highlight how Democrats promoted lax immigration enforcement and inadequate vetting that have enabled such abuses. Republicans should propose reforms like blocking immigrants from accessing benefits, mandatory audits for high-risk programs, and stricter penalties for those who exploit our systems.
By framing the scandal as a symptom of broader systemic failures under prior administrations, Republicans can rally their base, attract independents frustrated with waste, and build momentum for comprehensive reforms that protect American resources and sovereignty.
Republicans’ main goal for the rest of 2026 is not to waste this opportunity. Maximize domestic efforts to revitalize the economy and address fraud, waste, and abuse of American taxpayer dollars. Use the wins to highlight the successes in messaging and campaigns, pursue legislation to solidify them, and engage grassroots supporters. Trump has once again set the stage for them to win. All the GOP has to do is not screw it up.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/Clear-Up-For-GOP.jpg347640The Daily Callerhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngThe Daily Caller2026-01-07 15:52:542026-01-07 15:59:01ROOKE: It Only Took A Couple Weeks For Dark Skies To Clear Up For GOP’s Future
The Consumer Price Index climbed 2.7% from a year earlier in November, down from 3.0% in September and under economist predictions of 3.1%. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, hit 2.6%—its lowest since March 2021—while shelter costs eased to 3.0% and food rose 2.6%. Released after an October government shutdown delayed data collection, the report cheered markets, lifted stock futures and Bitcoin above $89,000, and fueled hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026 to help borrowers.
“Unexpectedly.” Not for those of us who voted for Trump.
Remember all that left-wing panicmongering over Trump tariffs? And now crying about “affordability” but were silent when inflation shot to 9% under Biden. The left HATES you.
US inflation unexpectedly cooled in November — slowing its pace in the first report since September after a government shutdown disrupted data gathering.
The Consumer Price Index rose 2.7% in November over the past 12 months, down from 3% in September and below expectations of a 3.1% rise, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday.
People shopping during the holiday season at Hudson Yards shopping mall in New York City.
November’s inflation report did not include monthly figures, since the BLS canceled the October inflation report last month as a record-breaking government shutdown prevented the collection of data.
Last week, the Fed slashed interest rates for a third time this year on price pressures – even as it contends with a weakening labor market.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell warned last week that upcoming economic data “may be distorted” by the shutdown and should be viewed with a “somewhat skeptical eye.”
Nearly a year into his triumphant second term, Trump stands as a colossus, methodically dismantling the shadowy Deep State that has long strangled the will of the people. What began as a bold mandate from 75 million patriots in 2024 has evolved into a masterclass in executive resolve, yielding historic economic surges, ironclad border security, and a foreign policy that puts America first. Far from being bogged down by bureaucratic sabotage, Trump’s administration has turned resistance into rocket fuel, accelerating reforms that are already delivering unprecedented prosperity and security to everyday Americans.
The Deep State’s arsenal — leaks, delays, and outright insubordination — has been exposed and neutralized with surgical precision. Drawing lessons from his first term, where rogue bureaucrats in the FBI and DOJ orchestrated the Russia hoax and impeachments, Trump launched the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Day One, enlisting tech visionary Elon Musk to spearhead a blitzkrieg against waste. This innovative task force has slashed federal spending by billions, overseeing mass layoffs of obstructive civil servants and streamlining agencies bloated by decades of leftist overreach. Schedule F reforms, revived and expanded, have reclassified thousands of policy-influencing roles as at-will positions, empowering loyal patriots to replace the faceless apparatchiks who once weaponized government against conservatives. Critics wail about “politicization,” but this is justice — restoring accountability to a bureaucracy that betrayed the electorate by slow-walking Trump’s agenda and shielding illegal activities, from Crossfire Hurricane to the Hunter Biden laptop suppression.
The results are nothing short of miraculous. Despite the Deep State’s desperate rearguard actions — fomenting leaks and legal challenges — Trump’s economy is roaring back to pre-Biden glory. Since January 2025, the U.S. has added 671,000 net jobs, with native-born workers capturing every single gain while foreign-born employment plummeted by 543,000 — a direct win for American families sidelined by open-border policies. Core inflation hovers at a stable 2.1%, the lowest since Trump’s first term, defying the doomsayers who predicted tariff-induced chaos. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq have shattered records multiple times, fueled by $7.6 trillion in pledged investments from companies and foreign governments eager to partner with a pro-growth America. Treasury coffers overflow with $90 billion in tariff revenues, posting the first June surplus since 2005 and funding infrastructure without a dime in new taxes. These aren’t accidents; they’re the fruits of Trump’s reciprocal trade war, slapping 10–50% duties on unfair partners like China and India, forcing fair deals that protect steelworkers in Pennsylvania and farmers in Iowa.
On the border, where Biden’s laxity unleashed chaos, Trump has forged an impenetrable fortress. The Laken Riley Act, signed into law in March 2025, mandates detention for criminal illegal aliens, commemorating the Georgia nursing student’s tragic murder by an MS-13 savage. ICE raids have deported over 250,000 offenders, invoking the Alien Enemies Act against Venezuelan gangs like Tren de Aragua — a bold stroke blocked temporarily by activist judges but upheld in spirit by the Supreme Court. Nationwide, sanctuary cities like New York face federal ultimatums: End the shielding of 7,000-plus criminal illegals or lose funding. Birthright citizenship for anchor babies is under assault via executive order, and the border wall expands daily, slashing crossings by 90% in key sectors. Deep State holdouts in DHS tried to sabotage these efforts, but Trump’s loyalists — vetted warriors like Tom Homan and Stephen Miller — have rooted them out, ensuring that the wall isn’t just built, but effective.
Foreign policy, too, gleams with victories. Trump secured a landmark NATO deal, compelling allies to hike defense spending to 5% of GDP — a feat diplomats deemed impossible. In the Middle East, his 20-Point Gaza Peace Plan, unveiled with Prime Minister Netanyahu, delivered a ceasefire, hostage releases, and Hamas’s dismantling by October 2025, stabilizing the region without a single American boot on the ground. Strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, backed by Israel, neutered Tehran’s ambitions, while trade pacts with Pakistan unlocked energy independence abroad. Even in Ukraine, Trump’s tough negotiations — favoring no more blank checks — paved the way for mineral deals funding reconstruction, proving that diplomacy through strength works. The Deep State’s globalist puppets, from USAID saboteurs hiding Syria ops to WHO enablers, have been defunded and defanged, with $7.6 billion in green energy pork axed to prioritize real security.
Health and education reforms cut through the woke rot with equal vigor. The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda, led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., bans DIE indoctrination in federal agencies and revives the Mexico City Policy, defunding overseas abortions while safeguarding taxpayer dollars for essential programs. The 2025 Marketplace Rule ensures that Obamacare subsidies go only to qualifiers, stabilizing premiums and exposing fraud. In schools, Executive Order 14191 expands educational freedom, empowering parents against union bosses and curriculum censors. Bureaucrats who resisted — firing inspectors general who probed too deeply — were swiftly shown the door, their “trauma” a small price for liberating American kids from radical agendas.
Of course, the swamp fights dirty. Impeachment whispers from Al Green and Democrat resolutions citing phantom “crimes” are desperate flails from a party eyeing 2026 wipeouts. Leaks from FEMA holdouts and DOJ foot-draggers aim to manufacture failures, but Trump’s 143 executive orders in the first 100 days — more than any president — have steamrolled them. Pardons for 1,500 January 6 heroes restored justice, while revoking 111 Biden edicts erased the woke stain. As Russell Vought, OMB director and Project 2025 architect, declares, this is no mercy mission: “We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected,” ensuring loyalty to the Constitution over cabal.
Trump’s second act isn’t just governance; it’s a reckoning. From job booms to border walls, from NATO wins to Middle East peace, he’s proving that the Deep State is no match for a leader who fights for forgotten Americans. As 2026 looms, the midterms beckon as a referendum on renewal. The people who sent him back to the Oval know: Trump is dynamiting the swamp, rebuilding on solid ground.
America is winning again, and under President Trump, that victory is just beginning.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is forecasting that a “substantial acceleration” will occur in the country’s economy in 2026 as a result of decreasing prices in consumer goods and increasing real income.
During a recent interview with Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo, Bessent argued that inflation is now becoming manageable under the Trump administration, whereas under Biden, it reached upwards of 9% in 2022. It currently stands at around 3%.
“We inherited this terrible inflation. We are flattening it out,” he remarked. “I believe we are going to push it down. Energy prices are down, interest rates are down. But the real thing that is going to happen that is going to give Americans real purchasing power increases, it’s going to be through growth. … [T]hanks to the president keeping his campaign promises — no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security, deductibility of auto loans … Working Americans will change their withholdings, and they will get a bump up in their real incomes. I will expect in the first quarter, we are going to see the inflation curve bend down and the real income curve substantially accelerate, and when those two lines cross, Americans are going to feel it.”
The comments come as economic uncertainty has rattled the consumer goods market, with the price of beef surging almost 13%, coffee increasing almost 19%, and bananas rising almost 7%. Some experts like Omaha Steaks President and CEO Nate Rempe say that beef could reach $10 a pound by next year. But Bessent predicted that prices will begin to level off due to Trump removing tariffs as a result of trade deals.
“We’ve been working on trade deals with Central and South American countries for six [to] eight months,” he pointed out. “Just this past week we signed the trade deals. So not only will the tariffs come off … coffee, cocoa, [and] bananas, [and] many other items, that’s a result of the trade deals going through, and then we will see this go down. We are also seeing the import barriers for the other countries come through. So this is a complete trade policy, and now we are going to see it affect the prices.”
Bessent further contended that America’s economy will begin to take off at the beginning of next year.
“I think we are going to see a substantial acceleration in the economy in the first, second quarter, and I think we are already seeing on many prices … we’re bending that curve down, and the increase in real income, I think Americans are going to feel it in the first quarter, second quarter,” he underscored. “I think [in] 2026, thanks to President Trump’s signature plans, is going to be a great year for working Americans, for the markets. I call it parallel prosperity — main street and Wall Street can both do great, but I think main street is going to have a great year in 2026.”
Economists like Dave Brat, who serves as senior vice president of Business Relations at Liberty University, are also predicting booming growth as a result of significant global investments secured by the Trump administration.
“[Trump] is bringing in $2 trillion pledges in capital investment and over $10 trillion in capital coming in from abroad,” he told Family Research Council’s Jody Hice during “Washington Watch” last week. “That capital is the number one determinant of economic growth. So that will guarantee help [for] the economy going forward. But that capital probably takes two, three, four years to even start having its effect. [For] GDP growth, the Atlanta Fed has this growing at 4[%] … [T]he long run trajectory is only 2[%].”
Brat, a former congressman, went on to posit that a renewed focus on education must be implemented in order to strengthen the American economy.
“[O]ne thing that politicians don’t pay any attention to is education,” he lamented. “If you want the economy to get going, you cannot have 12% literacy rates — 12% reading rates for poor kids in Chicago’s inner city. How in the world are you going to have an economy? If Trump does that … the black, brown, blue-collar workers will stay strong with Trump if he shows he really cares about them.”
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Nearly a year out from the midterms, House Republicans are touting a notable fundraising edge that could help the party maintain House control in 2026.
For the first time since 2015, the National Republican Congressional Committee, House Republicans’ campaign arm, has outraised its Democratic counterpart in the first three quarters of an election cycle. Though midterm elections tend to go poorly for the party in power, lackluster fundraising for Democrats and a relatively poor performance on the generic ballot show the party in a weaker position than in previous election cycles.
The NRCC has reported roughly $720,000 more in year-to-date fundraising than the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
In stark contrast, the DCCC held nearly a $9 million advantage after the first three fundraising quarters of 2017. Democrats would go on to win 41 seats in the 2018 midterms and reclaim control of the House.
In the first three fundraising quarters of 2025, the NRCC reported a $20 million uptick in contributions compared to the same period in 2017. The House Republican campaign arm also has $7.5 million more in the bank at the end of September 2025 than it had in September 2017.
“The numbers don’t lie: House Republicans have the momentum, the message, and the money while Democrats are broke, divided, and out of gas,” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said in a statement.
“The NRCC is grasping at straws because poll after poll shows House Republicans are sinking in battleground districts,” DCCC spokesman Aidan Johnson said in a statement to the DCNF. “At the end of the day, voters are what matter, and it’s clear they’re done with Republicans’ broken promises and ready to send Democrats back to the majority next November.”
Though the DCCC reported slightly more in Q3 receipts than the NRCC’s $24 million haul, House Democrats’ campaign arm has reported less in year-to-date fundraising in 2025 compared to the last cycle in 2023. The DCCC had a $23 million edge over the NRCC at the end of September that year.
Republicans have also maintained a financial edge among their most vulnerable incumbents compared to their Democratic counterparts.
House Republicans on the NRCC’s Patriot list — the party’s most endangered incumbents — raised an average of $763,000 in the third fundraising quarter, which runs from July to September.
Three NRCC Patriots, Reps. Young Kim of California, Mike Lawler of New York, and Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, reported fundraising hauls over $1 million in the third quarter.
Vulnerable Republican incumbents also maintained a significant cash-on-hand advantage over their Democratic counterparts through the end of September.
The DCCC’s Frontliners — considered to be the most vulnerable Democrats running for reelection — reported an average fundraising haul of $664,000 during the year’s third fundraising quarter, according to the NRCC’s analysis. Four Democrats, including Maine Rep. Jared Golden, reported more than $1 million in receipts during the third quarter.
Democrats have also not been able to keep up their polling performance on the generic ballot compared to 2017.
Democrats hold just a 2.6-point lead on the RealClearPolitics polling average as of Friday. On Oct. 24, 2017, Democrats led Republicans in the generic ballot by 10.3 percentage points.
Democrats’ weaker performance in the generic ballot comes as the party’s approval rating has fallen to historic lows. A July Wall Street Journal poll found a net favorability rating of -30 for Democrats — the worst figure for the party since the pollster began asking the question in 1990.
Matt Bennett, co-founder of liberal think tank Third Way, argued Thursday that the Democratic Party’s weak approval rating signals the party could remain in dismal shape through the midterms.
“We’re in terrible shape. Like, we just have to be very honest with ourselves — the Democratic Party is in really, really bad shape,” Bennett told Halperin.
“We have not begun to address those problems,” Bennett continued. “I do think we will not be able to fully address them until we have a leader, and that won’t be for like three years, when we nominate somebody for president.”
The Republican National Committee (RNC) also continues to trounce its Democratic rival in fundraising and cash on hand. The RNC has $86 million in the bank compared to the DNC’s $12 million at the end of September — a $74 million gap.
The DNC notably doled out $1.6 million in September alone — and has paid out more than $20 millon in total — to cover former Vice President Kamala Harris’s leftover campaign debt from her failed presidential run.
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President Donald Trump’s job approval rating among Americans has risen by several points since Monday, according to polling from Rasmussen Reports.
Of likely U.S. voters surveyed, 53% said they approved of Trump’s job performance as president, according to the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday. Meanwhile, 46% of likely voters said they disapproved of the president’s performance, the poll found.
The Friday poll results mark a significant improvement from Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday, when Trump’s total job approval was at 48% and his disapproval at 51% — meaning the president’s approval rating went from three points underwater to seven points in the positive, a difference of ten points, in the span of the week.
The poll also found that 34% of voters “strongly approve” of the job Trump is doing as president. Still, 37% of respondents said that they “strongly disapprove” of Trump’s job performance, according to the survey.
However, other recent polling has painted a starkly different picture of how Americans view Trump’s leadership. An Economist/YouGov poll released Tuesday found that just 39% of voters strongly or somewhat approve of Trump’s job performance as president, while 57% disapprove.
The 39% of respondents who said they approved of Trump is the lowest share to do so in any weekly Economist/YouGov Poll thus far in his second term, according to the survey.
Trump has been moving rapidly to implement several parts of his agenda this year, such as prioritizingborder security and illegal immigration enforcement. The president has also been moving to crack down on criminal activity in Washington, D.C.
Additionally, Trump unveiled an executive order in late August aiming to make “federal architecture beautiful again.”
The Rasmussen Reports poll’s margin of sampling error for the full sample of 1,500 likely voters is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Rasmussen Reports’ presidential tracking poll results are collected by telephone surveys of 300 likely voters on a nightly basis.
The Economist/YouGov Poll was conducted among 1,567 U.S. adult citizens. Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel to be representative of U.S. adult citizens. A random sample (stratified by gender, age, race, education, geographic region, and voter registration) was selected from the 2019 American Community Survey. The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 3.5%.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
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The USA trade deficit was $951.2 billion (!) before Trump came into office. How can any American be okay with that especially since America has been getting taken advantage of, robbed, by these countries for decades. The Democrats and their media lapdogs grouse about tariffs while pushing for higher taxes on Americans. Always plotting to hurt Americans.
What is notable is the number of skeptics and even outright critics of tariffs who have either shifted their opinion entirely or have at least modified their critique.
The announcement follows a four-month negotiating sprint with dozens of US trading partners to lock in one-for-one agreements — some of which are reflected in the new list.
Among the notable rates which will be charged at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 7 — rather than on the Friday deadline initially announced by the White House — are 15% for Iceland and Israel, 30% for South Africa, 39% for Switzerland and 20% for Taiwan and Vietnam.
Brazil, the largest economic power in South America, will see its rate balloon to 50% on Aug. 6, President Trump announced Wednesday.
The president previously threatened Vietnam with a 46% tariff in his April 2 “Liberation Day” announcement but the country was able to reach a tentative trade deal with the US earlier this month, which lowered its rate.
Israel’s new rate is 2 percentage points lower than the 17% duty unveiled in April — despite not having made a formal agreement with the White House.
Trump noted in his executive order modifying reciprocal rates Wednesday that some nations “have agreed to, or are on the verge of agreeing to, meaningful trade and security commitments with the United States,” while others either have not tried to strike a deal or “despite having engaged in negotiations, have offered terms that, in my judgment, do not sufficiently address imbalances in our trading relationship or have failed to align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national-security matters.”
The steepest tariff rates will be carried by Syria (41%), Laos and Myanmar (40%), Switzerland (39%) and Iraq and Serbia (35%).
The list also denotes a 35% rate on imports from Canada after Trump signed an order upping the current tariff by 10 percentage points.
Countries not listed in the announcement will be subject to a 10% tariff, according to the White House.
In a statement, Trump said certain nations “have agreed to, or are on the verge of agreeing to, meaningful trade and security commitments with the United States.” Getty Images
Trump had already locked up major agreements accounting for about one-third of American trade in the months leading up to Thursday’s order.
In Scotland over the weekend, the president secured a massive deal with the European Union, setting a 15% tariff for the EU in exchange for the 27-nation bloc agreeing to purchase $750 billion in US energy and investing $600 billion in the US.
Framework agreements calling for a 10% duty on the United Kingdom, a 19% levy for the Philippines and Indonesia, and a 15% levy on Japan and South Korea were also cut before the new rates were unveiled and ahead of Friday’s deadline.
“President Trump has reset decades of failed trade policy,” read a statement released by the White House.
“Today’s Order underscores President Trump’s commitment to take back America’s economic sovereignty by addressing the many nonreciprocal trade relationships that impact foreign relations, threaten our economic and national security, and disadvantage American workers.”
[…]
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters earlier Thursday that more than 100 countries were still in negotiations with the administration and eager to lock in lower rates.
“Upwards of 200 countries around the world have reached out to their trade and tariff team,” Leavitt said, noting that the White House will continue to “prioritize” key trading partners.
She added that Trump’s team “has been working around the clock to try to be in correspondence with as many countries as possible.”
The US will get ten times more in revenue from tariffs on EU imports, and $600B more in direct investment from EU. Even the mentally deranged anti-Trumpers it’s a big win for the US.
Financial Times: The agreement was struck following a meeting on Sunday between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland. The deal marks a victory for Trump, who has spent months forcing America’s trading partners into bruising negotiations by threatening steep tariffs, although the terms are in line with what Brussels had told EU member states to prepare for. “This is probably the biggest deal ever reached in any capacity, trade or beyond trade,” Trump said as he announced the agreement.
Financial Times: More from FT: There is no hiding the fact the EU was rolled over by the Trump juggernaut, said one ambassador. “Trump worked out exactly where our pain threshold is”.
Townhall: Sarah Arnold of Townhall: The move comes in response to what Trump called one of the “largest trade deficits” between the U.S. and the EU, criticizing Europe’s failure to strike a fair deal by the earlier July 9 deadline. Even before talks began, von der Leyen acknowledged Trump’s reputation, telling him directly he is “known as a tough negotiator and dealmaker”—a nod to the kind of leadership that prioritizes American interests at the bargaining table. “The European Union is going to agree to purchase from the United States $750 billion worth of energy,” Trump said. “They are going to agree to invest into the United States $600 billion more than they’re investing already”.
Axios: Europe’s economy was reeling before Trump took office. Still, White House trade policy has targeted its most dominant sectors, including auto manufacturing. German carmakers — Mercedes, BMW and Audi — have been subject to a 25% tariff rate since April, while other goods faced a blanket 10% tariff. By the numbers: As a bloc, the EU is America’s top trading partner, with more than $600 billion worth of goods imported from European nations last year. The U.S. exported slightly more than half of that sum, with $370 billion worth of goods sent to Europe in 2024. That trade deficit has been one source of Trump’s frustration with Europe since taking office.
More winning for President Trump. The POTUS is fighting ferociously for the American people. Reversing the disastrous America-last policies of his inept predecessors. Who in their right mind would vote to obstruct these successes in next year’s mid-term elections? Watch President’s Trump’s statements about this monumental trade deal below. President Trump is the GOAT!
President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a trade deal between the U.S. and European Union on Sunday.
The announcement came moments after the two had addressed the media, agreeing that the likelihood of an agreement was about 50-50. Von der Leyen said the negotiations had taken some “heavy lifting,” but the two leaders agreed they were happy with the result.
“We are agreeing that the tariff straight across for automobiles and everything else will be a straight-across tariff of 15%,” Trump said.
Trump strikes ‘biggest deal ever made’ with EU: Europeans will buy $750M in US energy, invest $600B after meeting with prez
By Ryan King · Published July 27, 2025 · Updated July 27, 2025, 3:20 p.m. ET
It took just 75 minutes for President Trump to get what he wanted out of the European Union.
That’s how long he and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were away from the cameras.
When they returned, Trump was triumphant. Europe agreed to buy $750 billion in American energy products, invest $600 billion in new money in the US and purchase additional US military equipment, according to the terms of the preliminary agreement.
Tariffs on many American exports will drop to zero. Duties on most European goods coming into the US rise to 15%.
President Trump announced a new trade deal between the United States and the European Union after a meeting with European Commission President
“I think it’s the biggest deal ever made,” Trump proclaimed.
The stated terms of the tariff deal appeared to be remarkably lopsided in favor of the US. Von der Leyen suggested that the only real concession from the Americans was that Trump would not impose 30% tariffs he had threatened.
The 27-member bloc is America’s biggest trading partner if taken together, with total trade hitting $1.97 trillion last year. The US trade deficit for goods was $235 billion.
The deal avoids a trade war between two economies that account for about 44% of the world’s gross domestic product — less than a week before steep “Liberation Day” were set to bite.
“I think we both wanted to make a deal,” the president said. “It’s going to bring us closer together. I think this deal will bring us very close together.”
Before announcing the agreement, both Trump and Von der Leyen put the odds at making a deal at 50-50. The European leader had flown to Scotland to meet Trump at his Turnberry golf course, where the president spent the morning playing with son Eric.
Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen in a meeting. 6
Trump touted the agreement as the “biggest deal ever made.” AP
“The starting point was an imbalance — a surplus on our side and a deficit on the US side,” the EU boss said when asked about the concessions Trump made. “And we wanted to rebalance the trade relation, and we wanted to do it in a way that trade goes on between the two of us across the Atlantic.”
Both sides also agreed to have zero-for-zero tariff rates on “a number of strategic products” such as aircraft and component parts, certain chemicals, certain generics, semiconductor equipment, specific agriculture products, natural resources and critical raw materials, according to Von der Leyen.
Part of the arrangement also involved a European agreement to “purchase a vast amount of military equipment” from the US, though Trump noted, “We don’t know what that number is” yet.
Von der Leyen and Trump both shook hands and commended each other on the deal.
European negotiators had sought to score a 10% tariff from the US, mirroring Trump’s baseline rate against foreign countries and the preliminary trade deal he inked with the United Kingdom in May.
