Sunday, December 21, 2025

2025's biggest story: Chump Wrecks The American Economy

Donald Chump keeps insisting he's save the economy when, in fact, he's wrecked it.  And all of his lies are not going to make people deny what they see with their own eyes, the pain they feel in their own pocketbooks.  Making tamales this Christmas?  Prepare to spend a lot more this year.  Rob McMillan KABC logo (ABC 7) notes, "CNN recently reported that a pound of masa, on average, costs about $1.99. That's up about 30 cents from this time last year. Plus, rising business costs across the board aren't making it any easier."  The Mexican cuisine staple is consumed year round but, yes, tamales are a Christmas tradition for many in the US.  Chump thinks he can out argue people who know what they're experiencing, people who are having to make difficult choices when doing basic grocery shopping.  Like that morning coffee but  not that morning coffee price?  Well doesn't look like coffee prices are going down anytime soon.   NEWS.AZ explains, "US consumers — the world’s largest coffee drinkers — are expected to face higher prices well into 2026, limiting the White House’s ability to ease food inflation ahead of the November midterm elections."  Nathan Layne and Aleksandra Michalska (REUTERS) notes, "On a recent snowy morning in a Trump-loving part of rural Michigan, three dozen cars idled outside a firehouse-turned-food pantry. Inside, volunteers packaged lettuce, apples and other household staples that have surged or stayed high in price this year."  Food pantries at Christmas -- Donald Chump's America.  They trusted him.  He didn't deliver.  He didn't even try to deliver.   

He destroyed our economy.  He destroyed us as a travel destination.  What foreign tourist wants to come to the US when his gestapo attacks foreigners and perceived foreigners on the streets?  No one.  He's destroyed the travel industry.   Christine Chung (NEW YORK TIMES) reports:

The United States routinely tops the list of foreign travelers’ dream destinations. They can’t seem to get enough of Manhattan’s skyscrapers, the mountains of Vermont, the hedonistic nightlife of Las Vegas, Hawaii’s pristine beaches and the dreamscapes of Disney parks.

But that’s changing.

Steep new fees, travel restrictions, visa hurdles, uncertainty at the border, and President Trump’s aggressive language toward Canada and other countries are all taking a toll.

Postpandemic travel growth has stalled and 4.5 million fewer international visits are expected this year compared with 2024, according to industry estimates.


He doesn't know what he's doing and he never has.  Hannah Broughton (THE MIRROR) reports,  "World-renowned whiskey brand Jim Beam has announced plans to pause production in 2026, amid struggles in the face of the Trump administration's trade wars. Operations at the company's Happy Hollow distillery in Clermont will cease on January 1, while the visitor center will remain open."  Chump's destroyed the economy.  He continues to believe he can lie about it and get away with it.  Diccon Hyatt (INVESTOPEDIA) notes:


On Wednesday evening, Trump took to the airways to defend his economic policies, responding to criticism from Democrats and others that the cost of living has risen too quickly under his administration, and has been exacerbated by his tariff campaign. Trump said he is tackling inflation, blamed his predecessor, Joe Biden, for the problem, and singled out groceries as an example of his success.

"Democrat [sic] politicians also sent the cost of groceries soaring, but we are solving that too," Trump said. "The price of a Thanksgiving turkey was down 33 percent compared to the Biden last year. The price of eggs is down 82 percent since March and everything else is falling rapidly and it's not done yet, but boy, are we making progress."

If you have noticed your groceries have gotten more expensive this year, the government's consumer price surveys back up your gut feeling with hard data.


Chump just doubles down on his lies.  Sarah Sharkey (MONEYWISE) adds:

 

Over the weekend, the president posted to Truth Social that “tariffs have made our Country Rich, Strong, Powerful, and Safe.” Later in his post, he pressed the Supreme Court to rule in his favor relating to emergency tariff powers. (1, 2)

But governors across the country are reporting impacts that differ from the White House’s assessment. Here’s what they’re saying.

[. . .]

But prices aren’t down. The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed an inflation rate of 3.0%. Some categories with spiking costs include food, with food at home costing 2.7% more than this time last year and food away from home costing 3.7% more than last year. Electricity prices are also up 5.1% from last year. (7)

A recent survey of Colorado businesses found that the effects of import taxes have had negative financial impacts on their business. Additionally, the governor of Michigan’s office recently found that the state’s residents are facing higher grocery prices, more expensive housing, and uncertain employment due to tariffs. (8, 9)


He keeps lying.  And we're supposed to ignore the prices when we go grocery shopping and ignore all the news of closings and layoffs.  PENNYWISE notes, "On November 21, 2025, Tyson Foods announced it will close its Lexington, Nebraska plant and cut Amarillo, Texas to one shift by January 20, 2026, eliminating 4,900 jobs."  PENNYGEM adds, "Under pressure Wendy’s shuts 300 restaurants—8,000 workers face layoffs."  Ash Frost (PENNYWISE) has a report that begs the question of where was the federal oversight: :

Farmers across the Midwest and South faced a sudden financial crisis in late October when payments for their harvested grain failed to arrive. From Nebraska to Texas, producers who had delivered crops to a major grain buyer found themselves waiting for checks that never came. Phone calls to the company went unanswered, and as days passed, concern turned to alarm. By early November, the scale of the problem became clear: thousands of farmers and agribusinesses were owed millions, with no explanation in sight.

When the creditor list finally surfaced, it revealed the breadth of the disaster. Kansas alone had 128 unpaid creditors, Nebraska 87, and Texas 72. The list included both small family farms and agricultural giants—Cargill was owed $2.6 million, while Viterra Canada awaited $4.7 million. Beyond the largest claims, there were dozens of pages of smaller operations, all left in limbo after trusting the wrong buyer. In total, court documents would later show liabilities between $100 million and $500 million, with as many as 5,000 creditors affected.

 The following sites updated:



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