In The News
134 stories tracking the cost of living under Trump
September 2026 (20 stories)
Data
Above-average rents cause 16% to 34% of poverty in 10 states including California, New York and Maryland, a Pew analysis finds.
Austin, Minneapolis zoning cut rents 20%
Economy
Texas Gov. Abbott declares a statewide disaster over diesel at $5.86 a gallon, up from $3.30 in February, seven months into the Iran war.
Says he can't waive gas tax
Economy
Transportation Department cuts fuel economy target to 34.9 mpg by 2031, below Trump’s own 2020 rollback, as pump prices hit records.
EVs dropped from fleet averages
Economy
Michigan Gov. Whitmer signs laws requiring landlords to offer at least one fee-free way to pay rent and allowing electronic security deposit refunds.
Wide bipartisan support in Legislature
Good Government
Ashland, Oregon, council votes to double low-income utility aid to $800 a year and cover the city’s monthly parks, safety and wildfire fee.
400 residents currently enrolled
Economy
Trump agrees to technical talks on New York Mayor Mamdani’s 12,000-home Queens rail yard plan, seven months after the pitch, but commits no money.
Trump hopes he's "a great mayor"
Economy
Maine’s housing agency reopens eviction prevention aid Monday, paying past-due rent plus up to 12 months more for renters owing no more than $9,600.
Income capped at 60% of area median
Courts
Federal judge orders EPA to reinstate $7 billion in Solar for All grants for 900,000 lower-income households, ruling Trump’s budget law cannot cancel existing grants.
EPA "considering options for appeal"
Economy
Trump says all 50 states joined most-favored-nation Medicaid drug pricing that “alone should win us the midterms,” as experts say Medicaid patients already pay little.
$64.3 billion savings go to governments
Economy
40 states and DC force subprime auto lender Credit Acceptance to forgive $634 million for 55,000 borrowers after the federal consumer bureau dropped the case.
$260 monthly loan on $950 income
Economy
Federal Reserve under Trump-picked Chair Warsh unanimously raises rates a quarter point, the first hike since 2023, 12 days after Trump demanded cuts.
16 of 18 officials see another increase this year
Economy
Seattle Mayor Wilson signs a ban on rental junk fees like pet rent and package charges into law, letting the city sue landlords for triple the illegal amount.
Requires upfront pricing disclosure before signing
Congress
Trump tells a North Carolina rally “hopefully we’re toward the end” of the Iran war, a week after saying it ends “immediately after” the midterms.
Gas $4.37 against $3.19 last year
Congress
Congressional Budget Office puts the Iran war at $38 billion through August 1, growing up to $3 billion a month, with interceptor stocks depleted for years.
Added 2.3 points to second-quarter inflation
Economy
Kentucky Gov. Beshear erases $250 million in medical debt for more than 130,000 residents by spending $2.5 million in state housing money.
Automatically done, no applications
Economy
San Francisco Mayor Lurie unveils $30 million rent-emergency package capping rent-controlled increases at 10% a year and replacing expiring federal vouchers for 650 households.
Rents up more than 25% in 1 year
Economy
Trump tells Ukraine to stop striking Russian diesel refineries, blaming Kyiv for a global shortage experts tie to the Iran war and closed Strait of Hormuz.
Spoke with reporters at his resort in Ireland
Economy
San Diego transit agencies freeze fares at $2.50 for riders on CalFresh, Medi-Cal or CalWORKs ahead of the region’s first fare hike since 2009.
34,000 current pass holders qualify
Economy
Trump says $1.2 trillion election-conditioned dividend needs no congressional vote, citing tariff revenue, as Commerce Secretary Lutnick points to unlaunched visa card and Intel shares.
Hassett suggests reconciliation bill instead
