This week, President Donald Trump kicked off his affordability tour in Pennsylvania and called “affordability” a democratic “hoax.” Meanwhile, Democrats are taking note and feeling momentum heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

Post Reports

The Washington Post

Trump calls affordability a "hoax"; Democrats take note

DEC 12, 202525 MIN
Post Reports

Trump calls affordability a "hoax"; Democrats take note

DEC 12, 202525 MIN

Description

<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In the first year of his second term, President Donald Trump has focused his attention on foreign policy and made numerous trips abroad – with an eye toward the Nobel Peace Prize. But as he discusses peace deals with foreign leaders, his ratings domestically have fallen. Critics say that he isn’t doing enough to ease American’s economic concerns. So, this week, Trump returned his attention stateside and kicked off his affordability tour in Pennsylvania, while simultaneously branding “affordability” as a democratic “hoax.”</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Today on the politics roundtable, we discuss why Trump’s tour signals the administration’s concerns about the politics of affordability, and how some Democrats could use this as a way to gain an edge during the 2026 midterms. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Dan Merica, the co-anchor of our politics newsletter, The Early Brief, and White House Bureau Chief Matt Viser.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Today's episode was produced by Josh Carroll and Thomas Lu. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Reena Flores. Thanks also to our Politics editors.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Subscribe to The Washington Post </span><a href="https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?s_l=OFFSITE_PODCAST&amp;p=s_v&amp;s_dt=yearly&amp;utm%5B%E2%80%A6%5De-podcast&amp;utm_medium=acq-nat&amp;utm_campaign=podcast-subs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">here</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">. Watch this episode on YouTube </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr2DCTYKljMt7UKCI0o1E7TjWu6Hu4Jbi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">here</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span></p>