Newsletter Archive

April 2019

Trump Eyes a Massive $2 Trillion Infrastructure Deal

Now that Congress is back from its two-week recess, lawmakers will have to tackle some looming budget-related issues, including spending levels for fiscal 2020, a stalled disaster aid package and a potential infrastructure deal.

Plus: Plus, a 'collision course' with Congress over spending

Mulvaney: We Spend Too Much, but It’s Not Trump’s Fault

Mick Mulvaney, the acting White House chief of staff, has a reputation as a fierce conservative hawk on federal spending — or at least he did before he joined the Trump administration.

Plus: Plus, another F-35 fail

Medicare for All Isn’t a Top Priority for Most Americans. Here’s What Is.

Politicians and policy wonks may be busy debating the costs and benefits of Medicare for All, but Americans want lawmakers to prioritize some narrower reforms: bringing down prescription drug costs and preserving the Affordable Care Act’s…

Plus: Plus, a final look at tax refunds for 2019

Can Trump and Pelosi Find Common Ground Before 2020?

Congress isn’t like to pass much in the way of major legislation this year, but there’s still hope for progress on a couple of fronts: infrastructure and prescription drug pricing. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that she’s “very…

Plus: Plus, Dem economists push back against debt fears

3 Ways to Fix Social Security

According to the annual report released Monday, the combined trust funds for Social Security, currently valued at $2.9 trillion, will be exhausted by 2035 (see the chart from CQ Roll Call below). At that time, the Social Security system…

Plus: Plus, the polarizing responses to Elizabeth Warren’s student debt plan

Elizabeth Warren’s New $640 Billion Student Debt Cancellation Plan

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Monday rolled out a proposal to eliminate billions of dollars in Americans’ student loan debt and make public colleges tuition-free.

Plus: Plus, Social Security's costs will exceed its income starting in 2020

Drugmakers Reveal Their Prices. Prepare to Be Confused and Outraged.

Drug companies are revealing their list prices online for the first time, Bloomberg’s Riley Griffin and Anna Edney report, noting that the voluntary move is “a bid to stave off pressure from the Trump administration to make even more…

Plus: Plus, fighting the next recession

How Trump Could Blow Up the Next Big Spending Deal

A top priority for lawmakers when they return from recess at the end of the month will be reaching a deal on spending levels for next year, but The Hill’s Alexander Bolton says there are some serious obstacles standing in the way.

Plus: Plus, Medicare spending on primary care

Watchdog Group Warns of Dangers of 'Debt Denialism’

The Treasury Department forecasts that the federal budget deficit will surpass $1 trillion this year, adding to a $22 trillion national debt. Policymakers have been relatively unperturbed by the debt and deficit growth, though, with the…

Plus: Plus, did Trump lower drug prices for the first time in 50 years?

Tax Day 2019: How the Government Spends Your Money

Happy Tax Day! You’ve probably already filed your return for 2018, or at least most taxpayers have. The IRS says that it received more than 103 million returns by April 5 — and issued nearly 78 million tax refunds totaling $220.8 billion,…

Plus: Plus, Americans aren’t buying the Trump tax cuts

Trump Sets Up Another Spending Fight with Democrats

President Trump shot down the idea of negotiating a bipartisan two-year spending deal to avoid steep automatic cuts from taking effect next year.

Plus: Plus, tax cut boost has come to an end, consumers suggest

Bernie Sanders Introduces New Medicare for All Plan

Saying he wants to end the “international embarrassment” of the U.S. being the only wealthy country that doesn’t provide universal health coverage, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) released a new version of his Medicare for All plan Wednesday…

Plus: Plus, the deficit soars to $691 billion in just six months

Liberal Revolt Torpedoes Dems’ Spending Plan

Democratic leaders in the House postponed an expected Wednesday vote on a 2020 spending bill after progressives within the party pushed for higher levels of domestic spending. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) said that the vote…

Plus: Plus, a win for TurboTax?

How Soaring Insulin Prices Are Costing the US Billions

Billionaire Ray Dalio, founder of hedge fund firm Bridgewater Associates, said Thursday that capitalism isn’t working for most Americans and warned that the growing gap between the haves and have-nots is producing heightened conflict that…

Plus: Plus, hedge fund billionaire calls for reforming capitalism

Pelosi Says Dems Will Sue to Stop Trump’s Border Wall Plan

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced Thursday that the House of Representatives intends to sue to stop President Trump from transferring already appropriated funds to build the border wall with Mexico.

Plus: Plus, a new Democratic plan for retirement

Voters Don’t Trust Trump on Health Care

President Trump surprised his fellow Republicans last week when he promised that their party would soon be known as “the party of health care,” setting off speculation that he would push to replace Obamacare in the coming months. On Monday…

Plus: Plus, Dems propose a huge spending increase

Trump’s Sudden Retreat on Obamacare

In a flurry of tweets Monday night, President Trump continued to criticize the Affordable Care Act but indicated that any new vote on a Republican plan to replace the law would wait until after the 2020 elections, essentially punting on a…

Plus: Plus, who gets hit hardest by IRS audits?

Republicans Run for Cover as Trump Pushes Health Care

President Trump’s decision to relaunch the fight over the Affordable Care Act may have thrown Republican lawmakers for a loop, but the president isn’t backing down. “The cost of ObamaCare is far too high for our great citizens,” he tweeted…

Plus: Plus, Trump's $700 million foreign aid decision