Republicans should be seriously embarrassed.
Mercy! Check This Out
Trump Truth Detail Link: I have asked the DOJ to immediately begin an investigation into the Meat Packing Companies who are driving up the price of Beef through Illicit Collusion, Price Fixing, and Price Manipulation. We will always protect our American Ranchers, and they are being blamed for what is being done by Majority Foreign Owned Meat Packers, who artificially inflate prices, and jeopardize the security of our Nation’s food supply. Action must be taken immediately to protect Consumers, combat Illegal Monopolies, and ensure these Corporations are not criminally profiting at the expense of the American People. I am asking the DOJ to act expeditiously. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
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Who Does Trump Sound like?
The Ridiculous Grocery Gouging Discussion vs the One We Should Have
Please recall my August 26, 2024 post The Ridiculous Grocery Gouging Discussion vs the One We Should Have
The Harris campaign’s proposal, unveiled as part of her first big economic policy speech, has become a focal point for her presidential rival, Donald Trump, and fellow Republicans, who claim she’s pushing “communist price controls.”
While much in Harris’ price gouging plan remains vague, a central piece is simply a call for Congress to pass the first-ever federal ban on price gouging in the food and grocery sectors, which largely mirrors legislation reintroduced by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) earlier this year.
Trump now is leading the pack on price gouging investigations, something he once likened to “communist price controls.”
Food Costs Too Much
Next, please consider the Miami Herald September 22, 2024 article Donald Trump and Kamala Harris Both Say Food Costs Too Much.
Vice President Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has vowed to fight food price inflation partly by tackling what she calls grocery price gouging.
“As president, I will take on the high costs that matter most to most Americans, like the cost of food,” she told a rally in North Carolina recently. In her economic proposal, unveiled last month, she said she would “advance the first-ever federal ban on price gouging on food and groceries.”
Trump blamed imports. Now he wants them.
And he called for price caps on interest, definitely in the “communist price controls” category.
A Perfect Response From Reagan
Flashback August 12, 1986: Ronald Reagan’s Press Conference
I think you all know that I’ve always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help. A great many of the current problems on the farm were caused by government-imposed embargoes and inflation, not to mention government’s long history of conflicting and haphazard policies.
What Would Mish Do?
I would get out of the way. I would let farmers farm, and I would let grocery stores sell. And I would reduce regulations that place unnecessary burdens on farmers and stores.
Competition and reduced regulation are the best answer, not price absurd investigations of price gouging.
We need to be honest about what government can and can’t do. I would not make promises that I can’t keep. Harris, Biden, and Trump did.
Trump’s tariffs raised the cost of fertilizer. Trump’s immigration raids raised the cost of meat packing.
Trump wants US citizens to pack meat but demands prices not go up when labor costs go up.
Trump on the Price of Beef
Truth Social Link: The Cattle Ranchers, who I love, don’t understand that the only reason they are doing so well, for the first time in decades, is because I put Tariffs on cattle coming into the United States, including a 50% Tariff on Brazil. If it weren’t for me, they would be doing just as they’ve done for the past 20 years — Terrible! It would be nice if they would understand that, but they also have to get their prices down, because the consumer is a very big factor in my thinking, also!
Amusingly, his first answer to rising beef prices was to allow more imports from Argentina.
I approve of that. Indeed, Trump should scrap his asinine tariff policies across the board. But he won’t and the farmer backlash was immediate.
Trump in the Hot Seat and Biden-Like Denials
Please recall my November 1, 2025 Hoot of the Day: Trump Admits Beef Prices Are High Because of His Tariffs
Trump argues with cattlemen over the price of beef. Trump to Quadruple Argentine Beef Imports While US Ranchers Fume.
Facing anger from farmers, Trump amusingly and quickly resorted the Democrat standard playbook: Blame Price Gouging.
Also amusing, and very contradictory, like Biden, Trump insists there is no price inflation to begin with. Trump says there is “virtually no inflation”. Trump even declared victory.
Victors on Affordability
Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported Trump Dismisses Affordability Concerns, Insists Prices Are Coming Down
“Our groceries are way down. Everything is way down. And the press doesn’t report it,” Trump said. “So, I don’t want to hear about the affordability. Because right now, we’re much less.”
Trump lashed out at reporters who pressed him on the cost of living. “We are much better than Biden,” he said. “We are the victors on affordability.”
The president called Democrats’ contention that affordability played a role in Tuesday’s election a “con job,” and he asked White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to help him make his case to reporters in the room.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.) said in a recent interview with CNN, “Affordability is a problem.”
“I go to the grocery store myself. Grocery prices remain high. Energy prices are high,” she said. “My electricity bills are higher here in Washington, D.C., at my apartment, and they’re also higher at my house in Rome, Ga.—higher than they were a year ago.”
Amazing Irony
We have the amazing irony of price gouging investigations at a time were there is no inflation.
This makes perfect sense in the MAGA universe where contradictions don’t exist.
Trump’s Reshoring Plans
Trump wants to reshore everything. The economic nitwits cheer. Are you one of them?
US has extremely large labor costs vs the rest of the world. Reshoring iPhone assembly, underwear manufacturing, auto parts, and aluminum production can only mean one thing – higher prices.
In case you did not understand that, let me repeat it: Reshoring iPhone assembly, underwear manufacturing, auto parts, and aluminum production can only mean one thing – higher prices.
The price of new apartment leases is falling in many places. That will help the CPI. However, few people are moving, so the benefit goes to few.
Five Key Stagflation Points
- Tariffs increase prices.
- Reshoring increases prices.
- Tariffs are greatly harming small businesses and will drive many out of business.
- AI is taking jobs.
- Obamacare sticker shock is coming.
Those are hugely stagflationary forces. Does anyone disagree?
The open question then is whether or not Trump’s failed policies will destroy enough demand (think recession), to counteract the underlying stagflation forces.
I don’t know. But I do know there is going to be sticker shock for 24 million who are on Obamacare plans.
I also know that Trump now sounds like Biden, Warren, AOC, and and Kamala Harris on price gouging. And the TWS cult cheers, incapable of seeing the irony.
Addendum
