Ordinance 2026-27 passed 7-0 on second and final reading, putting a proposed increase from 6% to 6.5% for April through September before voters Feb. 2, 2027. Public commenters and Assembly members debated childcare funding, household costs and alternative revenue sources.

Russian banks are earning record profits from the state budget rather than from a growing economy, while RUB13.3 trillion ($161bn) of problem corporate loans sit on their books largely unprovisioned.

The recent US midterm elections have delivered a significant political setback for the Republican Party, particularly under the leadership of Donald Trump. The article outlines how the party's promises to address various American grievances have been undermined by a series of economic challenges that have worsened under Trump's administration. Key issues include surging inflation, a ballooning federal deficit and national debt, rising unemployment, declining manufacturing employment, and labor shortages in agriculture due to migration policies. The article also notes that Trump's trade policies have negatively impacted border states with Canada, while international tourism has declined. The construction of data centers by major technology companies, an industry supported by Trump, has become the largest driver of economic growth, though this sector is widely unpopular among Americans across the political spectrum. The piece argues that extreme populists like Trump are incapable of delivering solutions to complex problems, which has led to widespread voter dissatisfaction. The analysis suggests that voters globally are increasingly demanding tangible results from politicians rather than empty promises. The article concludes that the Republican Party's current struggles reflect a broader trend where voters prioritize practical governance over populist rhetoric. This election outcome serves as a warning to political movements like One Nation, which share similar populist approaches, that voters are increasingly holding leaders accountable for actual policy outcomes rather than ideological promises.

Ana Navarro of 'The View' is encouraging her social media followers to vote for Democrats, which is no surprise at all, even though the show touts her as a…

The Victorian election is witnessing a shift in left-wing politics as economic concerns increasingly overshadow identity politics. The Victorian Socialists (VicSoc), running their largest campaign with candidates in all 88 lower house seats, are positioning themselves as a more economically focused alternative to the Greens. Both parties share similar platforms on public transport, housing, and cost of living, but VicSoc argues the Greens' approach has become inadequate for addressing core economic issues. Recent polling shows VicSoc candidate Naomi Farmer could secure 15-20% of the vote in Brunswick, aiming to create a left-wing 'earthquake' that challenges the Greens' dominance. The Greens, meanwhile, are hopeful of gaining additional seats in Prahran, Preston, Pascoe Vale, Footscray, Essendon, and Albert Park, on top of their current three seats. This shift reflects broader trends across the Anglosphere where progressive parties are struggling to connect with working-class voters amid rising inflation and housing crises. Studies indicate Gen Z voters prioritize cost of living over climate change or culture wars, a trend that has led some progressive figures to distance themselves from 'woke 1.0' politics. Greens candidate Adam Pulford defends his party's national movement and past achievements, while VicSoc candidate Farmer criticizes the Greens' 'compromise' approach as leading to voter disillusionment. The race in Brunswick will likely be between the Greens and Labor, with both parties recognizing the evolving political landscape where economic issues are becoming central to left-wing politics.

The Victorian election is witnessing a shift in left-wing politics as economic concerns increasingly overshadow identity politics. The Victorian Socialists (VicSoc), running their largest campaign with candidates in all 88 lower house seats, are positioning themselves as a more economically focused alternative to the Greens. Both parties share similar platforms on public transport, housing, and cost of living, but VicSoc argues the Greens' approach has become inadequate for addressing core economic issues. Recent polling shows VicSoc candidate Naomi Farmer could secure 15-20% of the vote in Brunswick, aiming to create a left-wing 'earthquake' that challenges the Greens' dominance. The Greens, meanwhile, are hopeful of gaining additional seats in Prahran, Preston, Pascoe Vale, Footscray, Essendon, and Albert Park, on top of their current three seats. This shift reflects broader trends across the Anglosphere where progressive parties are struggling to connect with working-class voters amid rising inflation and housing crises. Studies indicate Gen Z voters prioritize cost of living over climate change or culture wars, a trend that has led some progressive figures to distance themselves from 'woke 1.0' politics. Greens candidate Adam Pulford defends his party's national movement and past achievements, while VicSoc candidate Farmer criticizes the Greens' 'compromise' approach as leading to voter disillusionment. The race in Brunswick will likely be between the Greens and Labor, with both parties recognizing the evolving political landscape where economic issues are becoming central to left-wing politics.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is urging Americans to connect the rising cost of everyday essentials to decisions made by the Trump… The post ‘Our Chance to Elect Leaders Who Will Fight’: Kamala Harris Links Rising Grocery, Gas and Health Care Costs to Trump’s Policies Ahead of Midterms appeared first on Shine My Crown.

In a televised debate, Rep. Marie Glusenkamp Perez and State Sen. John Braun sparred over gas prices, health‑care cuts, workplace safety after a fatal plant accident and the cost of replacing the I‑5 Bridge — issues candidates said have national as well as local consequence.

Rep. Mike Kennedy linked high gas prices to Iran and cited legislation he said would expand drilling; Johnny Larson said ending 'this illegal war' would lower prices and accused Kennedy of voting six times against the War Powers Resolution. Both traded 32-second rebuttals on national-security constraints.

At a Utah Debate Commission forum in Ephraim, Rep. Mike Kennedy and Democrat Johnny Larson debated gas prices, housing, water and public lands before a Snow College audience; moderator Doug Wilkes outlined a one-minute-answer, 32-second-rebuttal format. Closing statements urged civic participation before the Nov. 3 election.

President Donald Trump's approval rating has plummeted to an 'extremely rare' level according to recent polling data, with 82 percent of Americans disapproving of his handling of cost-of-living issues. A new AP-NORC poll released Thursday shows a staggering 82 percent disapproval rate compared to 17 percent approval, while other polls from Reuters-Ipsos, Marquette Law School, and CNN also indicate approval ratings in the high teens and disapproval rates around 80 percent. This level of consensus against the president is described as 'extremely rare' in American political history, with few issues generating such widespread disapproval in recent presidential terms. Economic challenges have historically been a significant factor in presidential unpopularity, but Trump's current disapproval ratings surpass those seen during the 2008 financial crisis under George W. Bush and the inflation crisis under Jimmy Carter. Even past scandals like Iran-Contra under Ronald Reagan and Watergate under Richard Nixon did not generate such high levels of disapproval. Within Trump's own political coalition, cracks are emerging, with at least half of Republicans disapproving across multiple polls, 29 percent of self-identified MAGA Republicans souring on his handling, and between 63-72 percent of white voters without college degrees expressing disapproval. Despite this historic unpopularity, Trump has pushed back in a recent Time magazine interview, blaming President Biden for affordability struggles even though inflation is currently higher than when Trump took office. Polling suggests his messaging is not resonating, as a majority of Americans hold Trump's policies responsible for current high prices, a larger share than blamed Biden's policies at a similar point before the 2022 midterms. The article notes that Trump's previous high disapproval rating came from pardoning January 6 defendants, which fell short of his current inflation-related disapproval numbers. The article concludes that Trump's economic policies are becoming a defining liability of his presidency, with no clear path to reversing this trend.

via NBC News Top Stories — The media ban has dominated the news cycle for days, and rather than steer the conversation back to economic issues, has Trump amplified the furor.

In a Q&A session Gov. Beshear said he believes the president's 'war of choice in Iran' is the main driver of high gas prices and reiterated steps his administration took on gas-tax relief; he also commented on the Court of Appeals release of former governor Matt Bevin and said he is watching Sen. Mitch McConnell's capacity to serve.

Falling demand and rising costs force growers to abandon cultivation, with key grape varieties losing ground across the region.

“Let Them Eat Cake?” Trump, Power, and Who Really Pays | The Karel Show Is America entering a “let them eat cake” moment? While millions struggle with rising costs, political leaders and wealthy elites appear more disconnected than ever. In this episode of The Karel Show, Karel breaks down the growing perception that power and privilege are taking priority over everyday Americans—and why that narrative is gaining traction. We look at: * The debate over political spending and priorities * Whether leadership is focused on real economic concerns * How messaging shapes public trust—and distrust * The broader question: who benefits, and who pays? Then, we pivot to the ongoing cultural conversation around legacy, media narratives, and how public figures are judged over time. Plus: a quick health check with the latest headlines affecting your everyday wellbeing. 👇 Join the conversation: Are we more divided—or just more aware? 🎙 Watch & Support The Karel Show ▶ https://youtube.com/reallykarel ❤️ https://patreon.com/reallykarel 📡 Streaming everywhere: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker 📅 LIVE Monday–Thursday at 10:30 AM PST Karel is a history-making broadcaster delivering bold, unfiltered takes on politics, culture, and health—broadcasting from Las Vegas with his companion Ember. ⸻  🏷️ HASHTAGS (30, COMMA-SEPARATED) #Trump, #USPolitics, #PoliticalCommentary, #CurrentEvents, #BreakingNews, #EconomicIssues, #CostOfLiving, #WealthGap, #PoliticalDebate, #NewsAnalysis, #GovernmentSpending, #PublicPolicy, #MediaNarrative, #CultureWars, #PoliticalNews, #Debate, #Commentary, #TrendingNow, #ViralNews, #PublicOpinion, #Leadership, #Accountability, #MiddleClass, #Economy, #NewsTalk, #TheKarelShow, #PoliticsToday, #AmericanPolitics, #SocialCommentary, #RealTalk #LGBTQ #LasVegas #vegan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-ixFU6u23I

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Uncover the dynamics behind Trump's Latino voter support and the significant changes in approval ratings following the 2024 election.