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Who Are You Gonna Believe, Trump or Your Lying Eyes? -- Krugman
https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/who-are-you-gonna-believe-trump-or
Republicans have an affordability problem. During the 2024 campaign Donald Trump promised to reduce prices beginning on "Day One," and promised specifically that he would cut energy prices in half. He has instead presided over rising inflation -- the Federal Reserve's preferred measure is running almost a percentage point higher than it was when he took office -- and his Iran debacle has caused a spike in gasoline and diesel prices:
A normal political party would respond to this problem by trying to solve it. OK, some blame-shifting -- attributing rising prices to forces beyond the president's control or insisting that current problems were caused by the previous administration's policies -- would also be par for the course.
But MAGA is trying to deal with its affordability crisis simply by denying reality. Over the past few days multiple prominent Republicans have gone on TV to insist that gas prices are falling. On Thursday Sen. Tim Scott said that "gas prices continue to come down," while House Majority Leader Steve Scalise declared that gas is much cheaper than it was "two years ago," when, he claimed, it was $6 a gallon. The average price then was actually $3.66.
And Pete Hegseth, the Defense secretary, told Congress that gas prices in California were $8 a gallon on the eve of the Iran war; the average was actually $4.64.
What's striking about these efforts to create an alternate reality isn't merely the fact that politicians are lying. It's the fact that they're lying about a subject in which the truth is more or less literally in everyone's face every day. Lies about, say, immigrant crime are difficult for ordinary Americans to check. But gas prices are displayed on giant signs all around America -- and drivers face a reality check on fuel costs every time they fill their tanks.
. . .
A normal political party would respond to this problem by trying to solve it. OK, some blame-shifting -- attributing rising prices to forces beyond the president's control or insisting that current problems were caused by the previous administration's policies -- would also be par for the course.
But MAGA is trying to deal with its affordability crisis simply by denying reality. Over the past few days multiple prominent Republicans have gone on TV to insist that gas prices are falling. On Thursday Sen. Tim Scott said that "gas prices continue to come down," while House Majority Leader Steve Scalise declared that gas is much cheaper than it was "two years ago," when, he claimed, it was $6 a gallon. The average price then was actually $3.66.
And Pete Hegseth, the Defense secretary, told Congress that gas prices in California were $8 a gallon on the eve of the Iran war; the average was actually $4.64.
What's striking about these efforts to create an alternate reality isn't merely the fact that politicians are lying. It's the fact that they're lying about a subject in which the truth is more or less literally in everyone's face every day. Lies about, say, immigrant crime are difficult for ordinary Americans to check. But gas prices are displayed on giant signs all around America -- and drivers face a reality check on fuel costs every time they fill their tanks.
. . .
Hat tip to DIgby: https://digbysblog.net/2026/05/01/believe-me-or-believe-your-eyes/
9 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
which I doubt, that's one hell of a risk to take in an election year. He's always been known for stupid risks and getting himself in a financial pickle. Now he's done it to the entire planet.
I noticed yesterday here in VT we're up to $4.40 a gallon. We'd dropped below $3 last fall. A 50% increase. Gee thanks, dumb ass. 
