Newsletter Archive

May 2019

A Brutal New Verdict on Trump’s Tax Cuts

The Republican tax cuts passed in 2017 have had only a modest effect on economic growth, wages and business investment, according to a new report from the Congressional Research Service.

Plus: Plus, $262 Billion Saved, Billions More to Go

US Approves the Most Expensive Drug in the World

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a gene therapy from Novartis that treats spinal muscular atrophy, clearing the way to market for what’s set to become the world’s most expensive medicine and the first U.S. drug to break…

Plus: Plus, what Congress has to get done

Trump's New $16 Billion Bailout for Farmers

The Trump administration on Thursday unveiled a $16 billion aid package for U.S. farmers hurt by President Trump’s ongoing trade war with China and other nations.

Plus: Plus, finally, a disaster relief deal!

Trump Blows Up Meeting with Pelosi, Schumer

Infrastructure was supposed to be one of the few areas with some potential for bipartisan action before the 2020 election. So much for that.

Plus: Plus, 5 Democratic tax plans

The Blue State Tax Apocalypse That Wasn’t

Congressional leaders and top Trump administration officials met Tuesday to discuss a two-year budget agreement to avoid $126 billion in automatic spending cuts set to take effect in fiscal 2020, and it sounds like they might strike a…

Plus: Plus, Trump, Congress may be close to a huge spending deal

Why the Rich Now Have Even Less to Fear from the IRS

President Trump is scheduled to meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday to discuss how to pay for a potential infrastructure package of $1 trillion to $2 trillion. But the prospects for an…

Plus: Plus, why Trump's big infrastructure plan may crash quickly

States Bet Big on Sports Gambling. Is It Paying Off?

It’s been just over a year since the Supreme Court opened the door for states to allow sports betting. Anticipating a budgetary boost from sports betting tax revenues, seven states rushed through that door to join Nevada, where sports…

Plus: Plus - Handing out cash during the next recession

The Largest Tax Hike in 25 Years?

The House is set to vote Thursday on a package of three bipartisan bills aimed at lowering drug prices, but Democratic leaders combined those measures with four other proposals to reverse the Trump administration’s controversial changes to…

Plus: Plus, Democrats’ controversial partisan strategy on drug prices

Trump Tariffs Could Wipe Out Tax Cuts for Many

It’s Infrastructure Week again in Washington, but as President Trump and lawmakers continue to discuss a potential package of up to $2 trillion, a new report warns that a one-time infrastructure spending spree isn’t what’s needed to…

Plus: Plus, the case against a $2 trillion infrastructure spending spree

Trump’s Plan: Win in 2020, Slash Spending in 2021

The federal government may be headed for a fiscal cliff later this year, as lawmakers must agree to a spending deal for 2020 by the end of September or face the prospect of $125 billion in automatic cuts to defense and non-defense…

Plus: Plus, is this why your generic drugs cost so much?

Trump’s $50 Billion Tax Hike

Hours before another round of trade talks with China concluded without resolution Friday, the Trump administration hiked tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, raising the rate on a subset of goods from 10% to 25%. The…

Plus: Plus, "market forces are clearly not working"

How Trump Paved the Way for Democrats’ Trillion-Dollar Plans

President Trump said Thursday that he wants Congress to protect Americans from surprise medical expenses — the large, unexpected bills patients sometimes receive after they undergo surgery or get treatment in an emergency room, for…

Plus: Plus, Trump calls for an end to surprise medical bills

Trump’s Big, Uncertain Step to Lower Drug Prices

The Trump administration on Wednesday finalized a rule requiring pharmaceutical companies to disclose drug prices in their television ads if the cost is greater than $35 a month. The requirement is set to take effect as early as this…

Plus: Plus, Obamacare insurers have their best year yet

The True Cost of Trump's Tariffs

Stocks suffered their worst drop in months Tuesday as investors contemplated President Trump’s latest threats in his burgeoning trade war with China. Amid news that trade talks weren’t going well, the president threatened on Sunday to…

Plus: Plus, two ways Medicare could save billions

Trump Puts Dems in a Bind with Request for Border Billions

Democrats face a quandary over President Trump’s request for $4.5 billion in additional border funding. “House Democrats are in no mood to simply hand over the cash after condemning Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies over the…

Plus: Plus, California's coming tax windfall

Trump’s Drug Rebate Plan Would Cost Medicare Billions: CBO

The Trump administration’s proposal to crack down on rebates paid by drug manufacturers to middle men probably won’t lower prices for consumers, a Congressional Budget Office report said Thursday. At the same time, the plan would increase…

Plus: Plus, why the latest infrastructure plan is headed for a ditch

Why You Pay So Much for Health Care, Even if You Have Insurance

The results of “the cost-sharing revolution” in health care — the decades-long shift of an increasing share of medical expenses onto patients, even for those with insurance — are not encouraging, a new report from The Los Angeles Times and…

Plus: Plus, CBO's new deficit numbers

Trump Asks for Billions More in Emergency Border Funds

The Trump White House on Wednesday asked Congress for $4.5 billion in emergency border funding, warning that the Department of Homeland Security is at risk of running out of money to deal with a developing “humanitarian and security crisis…

Plus: Plus, 3 reasons a gas tax isn't the answer on infrastructure

April 2019

Dems Say Trump Agrees to Pursue Huge Infrastructure Deal

After meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that they and the president have agreed to pursue $2 trillion in spending over 25…

Plus: Plus, Medicare for All gets its first hearing