Watching the Trumpapalooza in Dallas, one keeps wondering: just exactly how gullible are these people? The answer is shockingly gullible. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Donald Trump’s new promise to give a $5,000 check to every adult American citizen if Republicans win the midterm elections may be an effort to answer an age-old riddle: Can Trump devise a policy so ill-conceived that even Trump’s intelligence is insulted?
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
If it were true, (that he could issue checks without congressional approval), it would make his decision to hinge the checks on the election’s outcome even more mysterious. If the choice were his alone, the outcome would seem totally irrelevant.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
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Jonathan Chait: Trump
Will Never Mail the $5,000 Checks
“Trump’s new promise…may be an effort to answer a variant of an age-old riddle: Can Trump devise a policy so ill-conceived that even Trump’s intelligence is insulted?” (gift)
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Donald Trump’s new promise to give a $5,000 check to every adult American citizen if Republicans win the midterm elections may be an effort to answer a variant of an age-old riddle: Can Trump devise a policy so ill-conceived that even Trump’s intelligence is insulted?
Donald Trump’s new promise to give a $5,000 check to every adult American citizen if Republicans win the midterm elections may be an effort to answer a variant of an age-old riddle: Can Trump devise a policy so ill-conceived that even Trump’s intelligence is insulted?
The stupidity of people who believe him is astounding:
👇🤡🙄
"The defense of the policy is that it’s never going to happen. Musk floated a DOGE dividend (which never arrived). That year, #Asshole repeatedly promised tariff-rebate checks, which also never happened."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
"The Fox News host Laura Ingraham asked Trump why he doesn’t simply send the checks out now. He replied, 'Because the Democrats can’t do it. Because for them, it’s negative growth. With us, it’s so positive.' What does this answer mean? Does it mean anything at all?"
Trump’s party already controls both chambers of Congress. Why, then, should the bonus checks be contingent on voters giving Republicans another two-year majority?
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
"... an effort to answer a variant of an age-old riddle: Can Trump devise a policy so ill-conceived that even Trump’s intelligence is insulted?"
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
"Trump has spent his career betting against the intelligence of the American voter. The $5,000-check promise may be the moment he finally underestimated his audience." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
In a normal administration, These guys understand high-school-level math is a credential, albeit a minimal one, to opine on economic policy. Only in the Trump era can it be presented as a disqualification. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
One of those “seeing’s believing” and “don’t hold your breath.” Besides which $5k is minuscule in the Face of the Trump-created inflation we face.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...