Tag: Donald Trump

The Trump Economy: Breakdown

“When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on day one,” Donald Trump said in an August press conference, also vowing to slash gas prices by 50%.

Trump’s economic promises likely gave him the boost needed to win the election, as Americans have been hit hard by inflation, which increased year-over-year by 5.2% over Biden’s tenure.

How is President Trump doing on his promises to “bring prices down?” From his first day in office (1/20/25) and the 15th of every month, I will keep track of my cart of 22 grocery items from my local Walmart. The items range from household essentials (toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap) to popular food items (milk, eggs, chicken).

I’m tracking eight popular electronics items from my local Best Buy, including a GE top-loading washer and dryer, a Samsung 55-inch smart TV, an HP Chromebook and Apple AirPods.

I’m tracking fuel prices from the five closest gas stations to my home, as well as my 401(k) monthly rate of return (from Fidelity) and my home value (from Zillow).

I will also list the major stock market closing numbers (S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow Jones Industrial Average) on the 15th of every month (or the closest day to it if the market is closed), the monthly unemployment rate and the monthly rate of inflation. The latter two reports are the only federal government data I am using for this analysis.

I don’t pretend to think this reporting technique is comprehensive or “scientific.” The grocery, electronics and fuel prices represent prices in Athens, Georgia. The home value and 401(k) reports are from my personal accounts. But that’s exactly what makes this reporting unique. Instead of relying on abstract national data produced by the government, the goal of this reporting is to see the impact (positive or negative) of the Trump presidency on the economy from a real, personal standpoint.

My spreadsheet of prices will also be publicly available through Google Sheets. I also have screenshots of all prices, which I will publish as soon as I find an appropriate way to display them.

Democracy and Doughnuts

Like millions of Americans, I woke up today distraught to learn the election results. 

After briefly absorbing the news, my first thought was, “Maybe I should get doughnuts this morning.”

I promised my 60 students I would get them doughnuts if we attained 70% completion on academic adviser evaluations. They missed the mark by nine points. Done deal. No doughnuts. You snooze. You lose.

However, I knew several of my students would be hurting this morning, feeling hopeless after the election. Maybe I should get them doughnuts anyway? Perhaps just mini doughnuts? Or maybe some doughnut holes? But then a random text came through from a former student — an alum with whom I haven’t chatted in several months — “You better get your students doughnuts today.” 

It was settled. Doughnuts it is — full-size doughnuts. To be sure, I stopped at both Dunkin and Krispy Kreme. Six dozen doughnuts total (or “donuts” if they’re the Dunkin variety). It was the right call. Students immediately converged on my office, grabbing a donut and sharing their feelings. At one point seven students crowded into my office, expressing their fears, venting their frustrations, airing out their anger and cracking jokes about their impending doom.

I dismiss the notion that politics aren’t personal. If you were eavesdropping on my office this morning you’d hear an undocumented student fearing deportation, a gay student worried about losing their right to marry, a student anxious that her special-needs brother would lose his government assistance. These are all very legit concerns based on the future President’s agenda, and they are highly personal issues to these students.

But the country voted. And the majority voted for a candidate whose policies, if enacted, will definitely impact these students. I can’t do anything about that. But as these seven were gathered in my office, I realized in that moment I could be the most important person in their lives. I can listen. I can hug. I can emphathize. I can show them that they matter, regardless of where they were born, who they love or the color of their skin. 

By demonstrating Christlike love, I can have a direct impact on the people around me, regardless of the hate surrounding them.  Of course that doesn’t mean I’m stopping my fight against sexism, racism, nativism and heterosexism — that will be especially important in the years to come. But for now the best thing I can do for those feeling hopeless is to create a safe environment for them, and let them know I genuinely care.

And maybe occasionally, provide them doughnuts.