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Posted on 11/25/2025 6:48:11 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Like a master chef promising a five-course meal in fifteen minutes, Washington’s latest promise on affordability might be biting off more than it can chew. The word “affordability” has become the political equivalent of a Swiss Army knife—everyone’s wielding it, but few seem to know which tool to pull out first.
From New York City’s mayoral race to the halls of Congress, “affordability” has emerged as the buzzword du jour, a catch-all solution to Americans’ economic anxieties. President Trump has seized on this narrative with characteristic gusto, promising sweeping changes to make life cheaper for working families. His One Big Beautiful Bill Act—now rebranded as the “working families’ tax cut” because apparently everything needs a rebrand these days—represents the kind of bold economic overhaul that helped propel him back to the White House.
But behind the fanfare and executive orders, a more sobering message is emerging from Republican leadership. The revolution, it seems, will not be televised on a rapid timeline.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, offered what amounts to a reality check on the administration’s ambitious affordability agenda. While affirming the GOP’s commitment to reducing costs across the board—from healthcare to energy—Johnson’s words carried a notable note of caution that should give both supporters and skeptics pause.
From Fox News:
“We the people rightfully revolted against that, and gave us the power again in January. But the economy is a very complex thing, you don’t flip a switch and just change it all in one week. It takes a while.”
This admission from the House Speaker represents more than just expectation management—it’s an acknowledgment of the enormous gulf between campaign promises and governing realities. Johnson’s comment that changes will manifest “by the time we get into the first and second quarter of next year” pushes the timeline for economic relief well into 2026, beyond what many voters might have anticipated when they cast their ballots.
The Speaker’s candor comes at a particularly awkward moment. And let me tell you, the timing couldn’t be worse. Just as Johnson was tempering expectations, the White House quietly postponed its much-anticipated healthcare cost proposal, originally scheduled for unveiling this week. The administration offered no explanation for the delay, but sources suggest the complexity of reforming healthcare while avoiding the pitfalls of simply extending Obamacare subsidies has proven more challenging than expected.
Meanwhile, another signature Trump initiative has quietly faded into obscurity. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), once touted by Elon Musk as a revolutionary force for slashing federal spending, has been disbanded after just eight months. Former staffers have been reassigned to work on beautifying government websites. Beautifying websites? Really? That’s our radical restructuring?
Look, I’ve watched this movie before, and spoiler alert: it doesn’t end with rapid change. Every administration arrives in Washington convinced they can move faster, cut deeper, and deliver quicker than their predecessors. The Biden administration promised to “build back better” and ended up building back inflation. Now, the Trump administration promises affordability but asks for patience while the machinery of government slowly grinds forward.
Johnson correctly identifies the Biden-era policies as creating the inflation that sparked voter revolt. The Texas A&M analysis he references shows consumer prices consistently outpacing wage growth throughout Biden’s term. But diagnosing the disease and curing it are two different challenges entirely. The Speaker’s talk of unleashing “job creators, entrepreneurs, risk-takers, innovators” sounds promising, but these forces need time to work their magic—time that struggling families may not have.
But here’s what really got me: the most telling moment in this unfolding drama came last week when President Trump hosted New York City’s socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani for a friendly press conference, just weeks after calling him a dangerous communist. When pressed on this about-face, Trump simply shrugged: “We all change.” Indeed, Mr. President, but hopefully not on the promise to make life affordable for American families.
The truth is, Johnson deserves credit for his honesty. Better to level with the American people now than to perpetuate the cycle of overpromising and underdelivering that has defined Washington for decades. The economic mess inherited from the Biden administration won’t be cleaned up overnight, and pretending otherwise would be political malpractice.
Still, one can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. The “affordability agenda” risks becoming another entry in Washington’s long catalog of well-intentioned initiatives that take longer, cost more, and deliver less than originally advertised. For Americans struggling with grocery bills and gas prices, “full steam ahead” at government speed might feel more like a slow crawl.
Sources: Fox News, Washington Examiner, AOL
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When we stop providing sex changes to incarcerated criminals and "free" emergency room healthcare to illegal alien border crossers and huge healthcare benefits to public sector employees and teachers during and AFTER retirement, we can begin to talk about healthcare costs impacting prices.
Tyson announced its stopping production at thee largest meat processing plant in Nebraska. It announced its reduction of processing at its Amarillo TX plant.
That equals just around 7 percent off the market nationwide.
Beef is now a luxury.
But, according to President meglomaniac, things have never been better.
So you all enjoy 7 or 8 dollar a pound ground beef.
Just so those stock holders insurance companies get another free ride on everybody’s backs again, right Mike? ✖️💰
Yes. And remember this Electiom will be held on Red and Purple turf. Democrats have mazed out in Blue States
Very good chance they NEVER see the White House again
Red States are growing. Blue States are shrinking
RE: Americans aren’t just ignorant, they’re impatient.
In that case, we’ll just have to be resigned to the fact that today’s majority leader will either be put aside or replaced the next election cycle and it will happen because no one can perform economic miracles.
“Brandon drove the car into a ditch.”
**********
He most definitely did. No argument on that point.
But the economy is ALWAYS the top issue for voters and they will be blaming Trump for not giving it enough attention if things don’t quickly turn around. There are storm clouds all over this economy; meanwhile Trump has been far too preoccupied with foreign issues rather than focusing on pressing problems right here at home IMO. I have my own theories as to why, but whatever the reasons, he’s running out of time to get this economy back on track. A Democrat mid-term rout would be a disaster for the country.
He’s got a year. Latesy Inflation numbers are good.
American consumers are carrying record levels of debt. Given that we are a consumer driven economy, constrained spending doesn’t bode well for a quick economic recovery. Such a heavy debt burden cannot be paid down overnight. Even if it could, there’s going to be an economic time lag before things get noticeably better.
The point is, even if inflation stabilizes the debt hangover will preclude consumers from the robust spending that will be required to stimulate the economy. The sudden announcement of Operation Affordability is tacit acknowledgement that political consequences are looming if the situation doesn’t quickly turn around.
“ Actually healthcare is a drain on every sector of our economy because most employers offer health insurance, even some restaurants. It represents one of the largest employer expenses and does nothing but outcompete the rate of general inflation, year over year, decade over decade.Healthcare costs along could result in a sovereign debt crisis, which would be bad not just for use but for the rest of the world:”. Why doesn’t Speaker Johnson point out that the millions of illegals that have been welcomed into America by JoeyBuyDim have eviscerated the economy thru their free medical care? Why are hospitals forced to treat them in ER for “free.” Nothing is free and the American people are picking up the tab.
We need to decouple health insurance from employment.
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