The EPA thought up the idea of requiring oxygenated molecules to gasoline to reduce CO and NOx emissions. Oil refineries were using MTBE until EPA required ethanol in specifically EPA designed smog control areas. Then politics entered and presto ethanol total usage is mandated forcing companies to add it everywhere.
Ethanol has lower energy per volume than the gasoline it replaces, even though ethanol does have a high octane of about 99. Ethanol hurts fuel economy because of the lower energy content. Ethanol also is soluble in water, which introduces additional issues.
Others pointed out that Trump is unlikely to get rid of ethanol - politics - I understand that, just wish someday soon we could do the right thing and get rid of ethanol in fuel, or at least in all areas where smog does not exist.
Sorry but gas stabilizers are nothing new and you are grossly wrong in your claims that ethanol was first added thanks to the EPA... standard oil started adding ethanol to gasoline in the 1920s. It’s use predates the lead that was used for this purpose and basically poisoned everyone for decades.