Robert Reich Says Trump Policies Added $1,100 to Household Costs, Urges Midterm Vote Against GOP Enablers
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 13
Robert Reich Says Trump Policies Added $1,100 to Household Costs, Urges Midterm Vote Against GOP Enablers
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 13
Summary
$1,100 in added annual household costs from tariffs anchors Robert Reich’s argument that Trump-era policies are driving the affordability crisis ahead of the midterms.
Reich ties the price pressure to three main channels: gas nearly 50% higher because of the Iran war, diesel above $6 a gallon, and AI-linked borrowing of more than $500 billion pushing up interest rates and power costs.
He argues those policies also reward political allies, citing tariff exemptions for Apple, Tesla and Reyes Holdings, though the White House says no companies received special carve-outs.
Housing illustrates the combined effect, Reich says: 30-year mortgage rates above 7%, tariffs adding $10,900 to a new single-family home, and copper prices up 40% in the past year.
Reich urges voters to oust Trump’s Republican enablers and says any Democratic Congress should end the war, scrap tariffs and rebuild ethics and campaign-finance oversight.