The Needle: New Report Says Trump and Vance Are Cashing in on Wars, Heating Bills Are Rising, Marco Rubio’s Is Using Our Tax Dollars for Personal Travel, and More
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Gail O'Hara (via Washington CityPaper)
No country for oil men: A new Reuters report suggests convicted felon and President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are using war to enrich themselves, and focuses on Vance and Vitol exec John Addison, whose company got a no-bid contract and made hundreds of millions from Venezuelan oil. A similar scheme is reportedly happening with the Iran war. Yesterday, Trump said, “the people we are looking to protect,” which is “basically the Middle East,” are “tremendous investors in our country.” Minus one point for war profiteering. -1 [Reuters, Nation]
Heat rises: A new report projects that average heating bills will rise 7 percent this winter. Almost 5 million households that rely on heating oil could see 70 percent increases due to Trump’s Iran war. Electric heating costs may rise about 6 percent and propane bills are projected to rise about 5 percent. The report says 1 in 6 U.S. households are already behind on their utility payments. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association is urging Congress to provide relief. Minus one point for rising costs and struggling households. -1 [Guardian]
Massie attack: The Epstein Files Transparency Act II will be voted on in the next few weeks after Rep. Thomas Massie got enough signatures on a petition that puts the piece of legislation in front of the full House. The act would allow state attorneys general the power to represent convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s victims and sue the DOJ for failing to comply with a law that compelled the department to release all Epstein files. Plus one point for a tiny step toward justice. +1 [Washington Sun]
Games people play: Secretary of State but not his soul Marco Rubio reportedly spent more than $1.2 million of taxpayer dollars to travel to his son’s football games in Florida. A Post investigation shows that Rubio has attended at least 10 games, and that 15 of 23 total trips to Gainesville on military aircraft were personal. Federal officials using military transport are required to reimburse the government for their travel. Rubio defends his actions. Minus one point for using our tax dollars for endless personal use. -1 [Guardian, Post]
