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LetMyPeopleVote

(178,495 posts)
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 02:42 PM 18 hrs ago

MaddowBlog-Maybe Trump's emphasis on gas prices wasn't such a good idea after all

As costs climb and Americans are introduced to the idea of “warflation,” the concept of “The Trump Effect” is taking on a very different kind of meaning.

Remember last week, when Trump emphasized gas prices in his State of the Union address and suggested Americans should judge him on this issue?

That wasn’t smart.

Yesterday, however, he managed to make things worse with false claims about “stabilizing” prices.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-03-06T16:09:27.739Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/maybe-trumps-emphasis-on-gas-prices-wasnt-such-a-good-idea-after-all

In hindsight, the political calculus was misguided: The president knew he was poised to start a war in Iran, and he was almost certainly warned that the conflict would push oil prices higher. But Trump stuck his neck out anyway, effectively telling Americans to judge him on this issue.

A week later, it’s increasingly clear how not smart that was. MS NOW noted Thursday as part of the network’s live blog coverage:

Oil prices have risen about 20% this week, with U.S. crude oil at $82 per barrel this afternoon
.


Consumers are seeing gasoline prices 27 cents higher since last week, up to $3.25 per gallon on average as of today, according to AAA.

Less than a week into the war, gas prices were up 11% as of late Thursday, and as Friday gets underway the news is no better......

What’s more, when the president wasn’t peddling nonsense, he was expressing indifference. “I don’t have any concern about it,” Trump told Reuters when asked about the higher prices at the pump. “They’ll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit.”

Whether American consumers find this persuasive remains to be seen.

Behind the scenes, Politico reported that administration officials are desperate to find ways to lower prices. But at this point, they appear short on ideas.....

As costs climb, and Americans are introduced to the idea of “warflation,” the concept of “The Trump Effect” is taking on a very different kind of meaning.
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MaddowBlog-Maybe Trump's emphasis on gas prices wasn't such a good idea after all (Original Post) LetMyPeopleVote 18 hrs ago OP
For a "very stable genius"..... lastlib 18 hrs ago #1
In 2024 reporters practically lived at gas stations, grocery stores, family kitchen tables. betsuni 18 hrs ago #2

lastlib

(28,036 posts)
1. For a "very stable genius".....
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 03:01 PM
18 hrs ago

Last edited Fri Mar 6, 2026, 11:06 PM - Edit history (1)

He sure is STUPID!!!

I've seen smart, I've seen stupid; he is WEAPONS-GRADE stupid!

betsuni

(28,983 posts)
2. In 2024 reporters practically lived at gas stations, grocery stores, family kitchen tables.
Fri Mar 6, 2026, 03:19 PM
18 hrs ago

News programs interviewing people complaining about high prices, making ends meet, cutting back.

I keep waiting for that kind of concern from the nightly news, but of course it's a Republican administration now so...

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