JD Vance Takes On JD Vance
In his May 29 letter, JD Vance encourages policymakers to enlist the 'tools' of government to direct the American economy in a style reminiscent of Franklin Roosevelt. Such actions, he contends, are necessary to attain 'fairer treatment from foreign partners' and to solve a variety of ills that have allegedly decimated productive American industries. Mr. Vance faults Mexico and China by name for his complaints and presents the Trump administration's tariff agenda as a prudential government corrective, neglecting to substantiate the efficacy of his preferred economic policies.
While reading these claims, I was reminded of an author who once urged Americans to take responsibility for their lives instead of turning to the government for solutions or constantly blaming others for 'some perceived unfairness.' This author dismissed excuses such as 'Obama shut down the coal mines, or all the jobs went to the Chinese,' describing them as 'lies we tell ourselves to solve the cognitive dissonance—the broken connection between the world we see and the values we preach.'
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Fox News
7 minutes ago
- Fox News
Behind the scenes of Trump's 'iconic' McDonald's visit before election victory
Fox Nation is offering a rare glimpse into Donald Trump's pivotal McDonald's visit during the final weeks of his 2024 campaign with a multi-episode installment of "The Art of the Surge." It all starts at a McDonald's drive-thru, where the then-GOP nominee traded a suit for an apron and got to work as a fry cook in Feasterville, Pennsylvania last October. "I've always wanted to work at McDonald's, and I never did," he told workers inside the building. The first episode of the series documents Trump's "first day" on the job from the very beginning, as he requested to work the french fry cooker and learned the process. He walked through, step-by-step, dunking fries into hot oil, shaking the basket, pouring servings into the signature red McDonald's cartons and sprinkling salt over them. It became an iconic moment on the campaign trail as the notorious New York City business magnate-turned-president performed a job many Americans have had at one point in their lives. He even greeted customers wrapped around the building at the drive-thru window. As one family took a Happy Meal from his hands he quipped with a smile, "It's going to be the best you've ever had. It had better be. I made it myself." Customers passed on their messages of encouragement as the high-stakes faceoff with then-vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris was merely two weeks away, with both teams in a mad sprint to the finish line. "Make America great again!" one driver said. Another, shaking hands with Trump, said, "45-47, you've got this, sir." Trump paused, on occasion, to wave at the mass of fans cheering and holding "Trump-Vance" signs nearby. He told WTXF reporter JoAnn Pileggi that the crowd was smiling and upbeat because they wanted hope. Turning back inside the building, he faced the camera at one point and smiled as he noted how much fun he was having. "I could do this all day. I wouldn't mind this job," he said. Trump's efforts were viewed by many as a mockery of a claim his opponent had worked for the fast food chain while in college. At one point, Trump even remarked, "I've now worked for 15 minutes. Fifteen more than Kamala." As his team departed on his personal plane, Trump's deputy director of communications Margo Martin enthused about the day. "That was epic," she said. "Donald Trump working the McDonald's drive-thru – iconic." Trump would go on to defeat Harris in the 2024 election, sweeping all campaign swing states, including Pennsylvania. "The Art of the Surge" follows that journey to the finish line even after the McDonald's stop-in, showing last-minute efforts like podcast visits and his massive Madison Square Garden rally, while also featuring Trump allies like Alina Habba, Tulsi Gabbard, Hulk Hogan and more. To watch the series, subscribe to Fox Nation and begin streaming "The Art of the Surge" today. Fox Nation programs are viewable on-demand and from your mobile device app, but only for Fox Nation subscribers. Go to Fox Nation to start a free trial and watch the extensive library from your favorite Fox Nation personalities.
Miami Herald
16 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Bank of America predicts major housing market changes are coming soon
Homebuyers have faced an unpredictable housing market over the past few years. Rising home prices and stubborn mortgage rates have prompted many Americans to delay their plans for homeownership as they wait for housing conditions to improve. Broad economic uncertainty and the ongoing housing market gridlock have dampened buyer confidence, leaving the outlook for 2025 up in the air. Although housing inventory is finally increasing, weak demand could suppress housing sales. Don't miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet's FREE daily newsletter Sticky mortgage rates have shattered expectations for a strong housing rebound this year, but the overall market outlook is on the upswing from increased inventory and price deceleration. Though the second half of the year remains uncertain, many experts believe housing conditions will improve, potentially bringing an end to years of stagnation. Bank of America anticipates a few crucial shifts to watch this year. Image source: Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images Following years of stagnation in the housing market, 2025 was anticipated to bring notable improvements. However, persistent inflation, trade tensions, recession concerns, and financial instability have kept mortgage rates elevated, constraining home sales. Housing affordability is one of the biggest barriers to homeownership, and elevated mortgage rates and inflated home prices have made saving for a down payment and finding a home within budget more difficult. Bank of America recently released its 2025 Homebuyer Insights Report, and it found that buyers are softening on the housing market outlook, but still holding out for better conditions. More than half of prospective homebuyers believe the housing market is in a better position than it was a year ago. And while 75% of buyers expect mortgage rates and housing prices to improve in the next year, they are also holding off on purchasing a home until then. More on homebuying: The White House will take surprising approach to curb mortgage ratesHousing expert reveals surprising ways to reduce your mortgage rateDave Ramsey predicts major mortgage rate changes are coming soonWarren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway sounds the alarm on the 2025 housing market Younger generations in particularly would be encouraged to buy a home if mortgage rates fell below 6%. Head of Consumer Lending Matt Vernon notes that despite a challenging market, most buyers are planning to purchase a home in the future. "The uncertainty among homebuyers is real, but so is their resilience," he said. "Buyers are navigating a complex environment with rising costs, fluctuating rates, and mixed signals, but many are still planning ahead." First-time homeowners - predominantly Gen Z and Millennials - have struggled to buy a home amid rising prices and heightened competition. The average first-time homeowner age skyrocketed to 38 in 2024 as younger buyers were increasingly priced out of the housing market. In order to afford a home, younger buyers have been encouraged to lower their expectations and make concessions on their homeownership plans. Related: Fannie Mae predicts major mortgage rate changes are coming soon Over 90% of Gen Z and Millennial buyers noted that they purchased a home outside of their ideal neighborhood, and 30% of Gen Z buyers had to get a second job to help save for their down payment. "Even with the challenges they face, younger generations still understand the long-term value owning a home offers them, and many are doing what it takes to get there," Vernon continued. "They are finding creative ways to afford down payments and working hard to improve their financial futures." Though the housing market has been difficult for younger homebuyers to navigate, many remain hopeful that the market will turn around soon - and are finding innovative ways to tackle homeownership in the meantime. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Politico
21 minutes ago
- Politico
Over the moon: How the Trump-Musk feud helps the lunar mission
The alliance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk — to borrow a phrase from the space community — has undergone a rapid unscheduled disassembly. Yet amid all the fireworks Thursday from the duo's public meltdown, one area of the space world seems to have a brighter future: the moon mission. Musk, the SpaceX founder and well-known Mars enthusiast, has argued against returning astronauts to the lunar surface. But the stunning forced exit of the billionaire's handpicked nominee for NASA chief and Musk's massive rupture with the president have handed moon backers in Congress and industry an opening — and they're seizing it. 'Elon was the main reason for the fork in the road for NASA's human exploration plans,' said Clayton Swope, a former congressional adviser on space. 'With his exodus from D.C., there's a good chance NASA will refocus back to the moon with the plan: moon then Mars.' A number of major space companies — just not SpaceX — are launching an ad campaign going big on the moon, according to two industry officials granted anonymity to discuss the effort. The move is the first sign of real pushback against the behemoth space company and its founder, who only days ago seemed to lock down government contracts every time he blinked. A television ad funded by the companies, who do not go by an umbrella name, will appear on television in the coming days with a pitch clearly aimed at Trump. A narrator, underlaid by dramatic images of America's Apollo missions, implores voters to call senators in support of the moon mission and 'keep America first in space.' A separate letter addressed to the Senate Commerce Committee, and obtained by POLITICO, backs investments in the moon, and is signed by a lengthy slate of prominent space companies — but not SpaceX. As the feud between Trump and Musk escalated on Thursday evening, the Senate Commerce Committee unveiled a new reconciliation bill that would channel $10 billion to NASA. Much of it would go to the space agency's effort to return to the moon through the Artemis program. The White House's NASA budget had proposed major cuts to Artemis, including slashing a planned lunar space station and moon missions. 'Anybody who's following space will have noticed how deeply committed [the committee is] to getting back to the moon, particularly before the Chinese get there,' said a committee aide, who was granted anonymity to discuss the bill. All of this is happening amid Musk's very public fall from grace. Trump, during the social media showdown with his former confidante, threatened to cancel Musk's contracts with the government. The SpaceX founder responded by saying he would end the Dragon spacecraft contract, which is the U.S.' only reliable way of accessing the International Space Station. (But he also suggested late Thursday night that he might not actually do so, and Trump played down the dispute in a POLITICO interview.) The president had already abruptly pulled the NASA administrator nomination for Musk ally Jared Isaacman last week, just days ahead of his likely confirmation by the Senate. Isaacman, speaking on a podcast this week, linked his ouster to Musk's provocative departure from the White House. 'I don't think the timing was much of a coincidence,' he said. This all means Congress may now have a stronger hand in negotiations with the White House over the NASA budget, which was written before Musk's break from Trump and heavily favors Mars. The administration's budget proposes major cuts to spending for the moon in favor of nearly $1 billion for landing an astronaut on Mars. SpaceX, thanks to provisions in the bill, was likely to snag a lucrative contract to build the landing system for any red planet mission. That seems much less feasible now. Senators from states with large NASA centers — such as Alabama and Louisiana — are particularly keen to latch on to moon funding. Trump has voiced support for a Mars mission, meaning the idea may not have completely faded. But with Musk's implosion and the latest moon push, a return to the lunar surface is on firmer ground than it was just a week ago. POLITICO PRO SPACE: Need an insider's guide to the politics behind the new space race? From battles over sending astronauts to Mars to the ways space companies are vying to influence regulators, this weekly newsletter decodes the personalities, policy and power shaping the final frontier. Try it for free for a limited time starting today. Find out more.
