A last-minute push to sway voters ahead of the midterms has seen the president propose a series of abrupt policy shifts—from easing meat import restrictions to pausing diesel exports—only to face swift pushback from industry groups. Recent moves include sending targeted cash payments to a limited group of Americans while dangling unfeasible financial incentives tied to congressional control. Critics argue the flurry of half-measured proposals, some quickly abandoned, reflects a frantic effort to distract from economic pressures linked to his administration’s policies. With little concrete follow-through, the strategy risks deepening skepticism among voters already struggling with rising costs.
The pre-midterm defenestration of ACA enrollees looks like political madness – but the president appears to believe hitting poor people might work for himThere is a manic quality to Donald Trump’s desperate dash to do something, anything, ahead of November’s midterm elections to convince beleaguered Americans that he can make the pressures his policies have imposed on their livelihoods go away.The US president offered to lower barriers against beef imports to limit surging meat prices, only to consider backtracking under pressure from the cow lobby. He offered to stop diesel exports, only to find oil companies were not interested. He weakened fuel efficiency standards, claiming this would trim the price of a new car (and forgetting to point out it will also raise spending on gas.) In early October he started mailing $500 checks to nearly a million people touting his healthcare “wins”. Oh, and he promised adult Americans a $5,000 check if Republicans maintain control of Congress. That, too, will go nowhere. Continue reading...
