Perceptions of the economy soared when Donald Trump was sworn in as president in 2017.

The image of a successful businessman — built over years as a reality television star — gave many Americans confidence he understood the economy better than the politicians.

Republicans are staring down a major political problem heading into the 2026 midterms: President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

The law isn’t popular. Not even close.

President Trump boasted over the weekend that his tariffs — most of which an appellate court ruled illegal — had generated $8 trillion in new revenue.

That number isn’t just wrong. It’s impossible. Total U.S. imports last year were just $3.7 trillion.

The single most important task before lawmakers this month is passing the 12 annual spending bills that keep the government running after October 1.

Without them — or at least a stopgap measure — the government shuts down.

Here’s the thing about Donald Trump that too many opponents forget: When he’s challenged, he usually folds.

Consider the pattern. He blusters about sweeping tariffs, then backs away — enough that Wall Street traders have dubbed him “TACO,” short for “Trump Always Chickens Out.”

The FBI searched the home and office of former Trump national security adviser John Bolton early this morning, reportedly as part of an investigation involving classified materials.

Bolton, who broke sharply with Trump after leaving the White House in 2019, has long been in the former president’s crosshairs.

Elon Musk has quietly abandoned plans to launch his own political party.

Instead, he appears to have chosen the man he believes should inherit Donald Trump’s movement: Vice President JD Vance.