The Week: Trump’s Midterm Bribery

• Tucker Carlson’s latest theory is that algebra is a Jewish plot. The antisemites must really want to win over kids.

• On the first day of the Republican convention in Dallas, President Donald Trump declared that he will issue a $5,000 government check to every American adult if the GOP wins control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections. (He also, self-defeatingly and inaccurately, says he does not need Congress to send the checks.) The payments would supposedly be funded with revenue from the president’s tariffs. Yet tariff proceeds are now running negative as refunds exceed collections. Moreover, the nation is projected to run a $2 trillion deficit this year. Even if the government could afford to pay “dividends,” why would it do so only after the midterms? The best thing about these checks is that they will never go out.

About the Author

NR Editors

NR Editors includes members of the editorial staff of our magazine and website.

Featured Tags

Manage following

Donald Trump

9/11

• Tucker Carlson’s latest theory is that algebra is a Jewish plot. The antisemites must really want to win over kids.

• On the first day of the Republican convention in Dallas, President Donald Trump declared that he will issue a $5,000 government check to every American adult if the GOP wins control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections. (He also, self-defeatingly and inaccurately, says he does not need Congress to send the checks.) The payments would supposedly be funded with revenue from the president’s tariffs. Yet tariff proceeds are now running negative as refunds exceed collections. Moreover, the nation is projected to run a $2 trillion deficit this year. Even if the government could afford to pay “dividends,” why would it do so only after the midterms? The best thing about these checks is that they will never go out.