The Fate of the Union Address | The Write Off
Howdy,
Strange week, folks. Who knew watching your 401K slide would become a sport more exhilarating than pickleball? Markets tanked and Main Street quivered this week in the shadow of Trump’s tariff will-they-won’t-they. Now, recession indicators are flickering like the check engine light in literally every car I’ve ever owned.
What happens next remains to be seen. In addition to ironing out tariff details, the Administration is looking on as Congress tries to manage a looming debt limit crisis and a deficit-busting, Medicaid-slashing budget approval process. Yeah, stressful stuff. Mind if I bum a cigarette?
-Richard
SCOTUS to Trump: You Can’t Just YOLO $2B into Oblivion
Trump tried to freeze $2 billion in foreign aid, but the Supreme Court hit him with a “nah” in a 5-4 ruling. Turns out, shredding congressionally approved spending isn’t as easy as issuing an executive order.
Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Barrett broke ranks with the conservative bloc, basically telling Trump there are still some rules when it comes to government spending. Meanwhile, Justice Alito rage-typed an eight-page dissent, calling it “judicial hubris” and implying SCOTUS just lit $2B on fire.
Why does this matter? Besides the obvious Trump power flex getting checked, this ruling signals the court isn’t giving him a blank check to bulldoze government norms. And considering this court isn’t exactly full of progressives, that’s a big deal.
Meanwhile, the aid freeze has already caused chaos—businesses shuttered, food rotting in warehouses, medical care on hold. But hey, nothing says “America First” like torching global stability for no apparent reason.
Tariff Tantrum: What It Means for Your Wallet
As of 11:30 EST on Thursday, here’s the latest, but who knows if this will change after lunch or if the President sees a Fox News Segment he doesn’t like on trade:
Taxing Your Groceries (and Everything Else) – Trump just hit Canada, Mexico, and China with a 25% tariff on thousands of goods. What does that mean? Your avocados, appliances, and cars just got a whole lot pricier.
Your Wallet’s the Real Casualty – Experts say these tariffs will cost the average American household $1,000-$1,200 a year. So, congrats! You’re now making an involuntary donation to the Trade War Fund.
Oh, You Thought Other Countries Would Just Take It? – Canada and China are already planning revenge tariffs, meaning U.S. exports (read: American jobs) are about to take a hit. So much for "winning."
Wall Street Is Not Impressed – The stock market tanked, and the U.S. dollar took a nosedive after the announcement. Because if there’s one thing investors love, it’s global economic uncertainty.
Trump’s Plan? Just Vibes – He insists this is about stopping drug trafficking (?), but it mostly looks like a price hike on everything you buy wrapped in a patriotic sales pitch.
USMCA trade agreement goods are exempt until April 2nd– but before the deadline, will it be April Fools Day for Main Street?
Trump’s Address: Buckle Up, Main Street
Divider, Not a Uniter – Trump’s first address to Congress was heavy on the culture war vibes and light on policy. How are those “concepts of a plan” for healthcare coming along?
The $100B "Savings" That Doesn’t Exist – Trump proudly announced he slashed $100 billion in wasteful spending. Fun fact: That number appears to have been generated via creative accounting and a Magic 8-Ball.
"Unelected Bureaucrats Are Over"…Except Musk Runs Everything – Trump wants you to believe the Deep State is toast. Meanwhile, Elon Musk controls government satellites, IRS data, and the internet backbone. But sure, tell us more.
No Taxes on Tips, Overtime, or Social Security? – Great news! Except it wasn’t in the budget Congress passed. Translation: Either this is a Trump wish list, or we’re tacking it onto the deficit.
Tariffs Are Back, So Enjoy That "Adjustment Period" – Starting April 2nd, Trump’s reciprocal tariffs will make avocados, coffee, and cars pricier. His advice to farmers? "Just adjust." Cool, let’s tell Mother Nature to grow coffee in Kansas.
Small Business Owners: Brace Yourselves – If you import goods, employ tipped workers, or rely on economic stability, now might be a good time to stockpile Tums and rethink your pricing strategy.
Watch our reaction to the Join Address here.
So, to recap: Wall Street is panicking, Main Street is bracing, and Trump is doing Trump things. The market’s on a rollercoaster, tariffs are about to drive up your grocery bill, and the government is lurching toward another budget showdown like a guy who insists he can make it home on an empty tank.
If you’re feeling exhausted, you’re not alone. But hey, at least we’ve got each other—and maybe, just maybe, a shot at stopping this economic circus before it turns into a full-blown sideshow. Until next time, keep your receipts and your stress levels in check.
MSA In the News
Big Win for Small Biz: Paid Family and Medical Leave Passes the New Mexico House of Representatives
“Small businesses are the beating heart of New Mexico’s economy, and policies like paid family and medical leave help ensure they can attract and retain a strong workforce. HB 11 is a critical step toward leveling the playing field for small businesses that want to support their employees but can’t afford to offer paid leave on their own. By investing in working families, we’re also investing in the long-term success of our local businesses and communities,” said Richard Trent, MSA Executive Director
‘We faced the unimaginable’: Michiganders sound the alarm on Trump’s funding freeze
“When federal agencies stopped issuing payments, thousands of small businesses that depend on government contracts were thrown into crisis,” Trent said. “Entrepreneurs looking to access capital had nowhere to turn, except to big banks and predatory lenders charging much higher interest rates. … At a time when small businesses needed certainty, they got chaos.”
Treasury Declares New Ownership Reporting Law Will Only Apply To Foreign Companies
MSA National Campaigns Director Shawn Phetteplace joined the FACT Coalition and others for a national press conference on our opposition to the Trump Administration’s decision to gut the Corporate Transparency Act, an important law designed to fight money laundering and tax evasion by bad actors.
State budget theater set for an encore battle
“One business group that supports the governor’s budget is the Main Street Alliance, which called on lawmakers to back Evers’ proposed funding for Child Care Counts. The organization believes that Wisconsin’s child care crisis has reached the point where an industry collapse is a real possibility without state funding beyond July 1, when the new budget biennium begins.”
Lawsuits involving DOGE and the Trump administration that corporate America may want to watch
“The plaintiffs — which include the advocacy groups Center for Taxpayer Rights and Main Street Alliance, along with workers' unions National Federation of Federal Employees and Communications Workers of America — argue that Congress has not granted DOGE the authority to view the data and that such sweeping access violates the Tax Reform Act, the Privacy Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act.”