Much like bell-bottom jeans, tariffs are making a comeback. President Trump imposed tariffs on about $380 billion in products in his first term. The Biden administration kept most of those tariffs, then expanded them for China-made goods, including computer chips, steel, and aluminum—and quadrupled tariffs, from 25% to 100%, on electric vehicles(EVs). Continue Reading...

The following article, Cartoon of the Day: Auditing The Auditors, was first published on Conservative Firing Line. Cartoon of the Day: Auditing The Auditors. A.F. Branco Cartoon – Democrats are screaming over DOGE auditing the IRS. Hey, turnabout is fair play, right? I wonder if Lois Lerner’s name regarding the Tea Party will pop up. As Legacy Media Freaks Over 1 DOGE Employee Getting IRS Access, We Learn Biden Gave 919 People … Continue reading Cartoon of the Day: Auditing The Auditors ...

President Donald Trump wants his newest Air Force One, and he is not pleased with Boeing for the delays in that process. The commander-in-chief has therefore deputized Elon Musk to spur Boeing along and has even wondered aloud about entirely handing the project over to the technology maven. When Sean...

Elon Musk and Donald Trump have a golden opportunity with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Tasked with slashing $2 trillion in federal waste, they’ve sparked a debate: what to do with the savings? Two paths emerge. One, backed by Musk and floated by President Trump, is a “DOGE Dividend” — $5,000 tax refund checks for American households, drawn from 20 percent of the savings, or $400 billion. The other, my preferred proposal, is to use that $400 billion to pay down our ballooning national debt. Here’s why the latter isn’t just better for America — it’s the winning play for Trump’s loyal base. Let’s start with the options. The refund idea, pitched by Azoria CEO James Fishback and cheered by Musk on X, promises a windfall: $400 billion split among 79 million tax-paying households. It’s a populist sweetener — cash in hand, a thank-you note from Uncle Sam. Trump’s mulling it, saying on Feb. 19, 2025, he’s “considering” the plan. Fair enough — it’s got appeal. Who doesn’t like free money? But there’s a better way. Take that $400 billion and attack the $34 trillion national debt instead. No checks, no fanfare — just a hard swing at the fiscal monster choking our future. It’s not as flashy, but it’s smarter. Here’s why. (RELATED: From GDP to Reality: Putting the $35 Trillion Debt Into Perspective) First, it’s about responsibility. Trump’s base — conservatives who powered his 2024 win — care about the long haul. They’re not just “America First” cheerleaders; they’re deficit hawks who see $34 trillion as a generational theft issue. Refunds might thrill the liberal spenders who’d never vote red anyway, but paying down debt resonates with the MAGA faithful. It’s not a handout — it’s a hand-up for the next generation. “Use the DOGE Dividend responsibly, for our future,” as I’d put it. (RELATED: The Stupid Party Gets Smart on Spending) Second, it fights inflation — a burden all Americans feel. Handing out $400 billion in checks pumps cash into an economy still reeling from post-COVID price spikes. Remember 2021? Stimulus fueled a 7 percent CPI jump. More dollars chasing goods means higher costs for gas, groceries, and rent — pain every voter knows too well. Paying debt avoids that trap. Less government borrowing — like issuing fewer Treasury bonds — means less pressure to jack up interest rates. The money supply stays tighter, the dollar holds firm. For families stretched thin, this is relief that lasts. (RELATED: The Only Path Leading All the Way Out of Our Inflation Quagmire) Third, it traps liberals in their own game. Progressives would rather splash $400 billion on solar panels, universal healthcare, or pet projects — spending that fuels their big-government dreams. Debt reduction flips the script: it’s fiscal restraint they can’t easily attack without looking reckless. Call it a tax break, and they’d cry “giveaways to the rich.” Call it debt relief, and they’re stuck defending trillion-dollar deficits. Refunds might win their applause — cash aligns with their handout playbook — but that’s a losing trade for Trump. Why toss a bone to the blue wave when you can outmaneuver them? Critics might say $400 billion barely dents $34 trillion. True — it’s a start, not a fix — but it’s a signal: America’s serious about its books. Markets might calm, rates might ease, and that’s a win bigger than a one-time check. Others argue refunds juice the economy faster. Sure — if you want short-term buzz instead of long-term strength. Trump and Musk aren’t here for quick fixes; they’re here to rebuild. Picture this pitch at a rally: “We’re not just cutting fat — we’re killing the debt monster for YOU, for your family, for America’s future!” Toss in a Musk tweet — “DOGE Deflates Debt AND Inflation!” — and it’s a message that sticks. No photo-op with a $5,000 check beats the pride of a nation standing taller. The DOGE Dividend is a chance to do more than dazzle — it’s a shot to deliver. Debt reduction isn’t sexy, but it’s right. For the country, for the base, it’s a Trump-Musk legacy worth fighting for. * * * Shaomin Li is a professor of international business at Old Dominion University’s Strome College of Business. The post The ‘DOGE Dividend’ Dilemma: Why Debt Reduction Beats Tax Refunds appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.