Trump has somehow made free money toxic to Americans

With inflation outrunning paychecks and gasoline above $4 a gallon for much of the past half year, President Donald Trump is betting that direct payments can win over unhappy voters before the midterms. MS NOW reports that many recipients are reacting with disgust instead of gratitude. Since early September, Trump has pledged a $5,000 payment to every adult if Republicans hold both chambers of Congress, a plan with a $1 trillion cost that runs into a legal ban on election-linked payouts. Polls indicate most Americans doubt it or dislike it, and an NBC News poll found close to half of Republicans don't expect it.

The White House has added smaller payments: $500 refunds for about 1 million Affordable Care Act enrollees in 30 states, and $90 for roughly 20 million Medicare seniors, drawn from a $2 billion fund. Three recipients told the reporter they saw the money as a bribe. Cynthia Heim, of Delaware, gave hers to the Democratic National Committee. Alison Butler, of Washington, D. C. , split hers between two charities.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW →