Well, howdy there, internet people, it's Bell again.

So today, we're going to talk about Trump's $1,776 payout to troops and the economy.

Trump announced that troops would get a one-time payment of $1,776 to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

It would theoretically include about 1.45 million people.

So, let's go through Trump's claims, and then the reality. Trump said, quote,

Because of tariffs, we are sending every soldier $1,776, and the checks are already on the way.

Nobody deserves it more than our military. We made a lot more money than

anybody thought because of tariffs. That would be cool. But according to the Yale Budget Lab,

we're getting hit with an overall average effective tariff rate of 16.8%, which is the highest since 1935. The average cost of those

tariffs per household is currently figured at 1700. So it'll cover the tariffs and a couple of trips

to the shop at. Now the obvious question about all of this is how does he plan on getting this

appropriated. However, according to reporting, the money isn't coming from tariff revenue at all

and is instead coming from repurposing money approved through the one big beautiful bill

that was slated for military housing. The plan that

will cost about $2.5 billion apparently came together about 30 minutes before it was announced.

It apparently applies to all troops from 06 down to E1. Dancers in Columbus are going to have a good month.

Injecting a couple of billion into the economy, while Trump calls affordability a con job

and hoax, and simultaneously saying the economy is Biden's fault, while also saying it's doing great. It's certainly a mixed bag of

messaging. Trump's economic messaging woes are getting worse as time goes on, and unemployment

goes up, while his inflation report is now being called out as incomplete, to put it nicely.

Not just by financial analysts and outlets, but by major outlets.

In fact, the only economist I've seen that seems to be accepting the report at face value

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