Paying more, getting less

Plus: A look at the special master in the Mar-a-Lago search case

View this email online September 17, 2022 This week, we looked at the Mar-a-Lago special master and DeSantis' move to send migrants to Martha's Vineyard. Plus: Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. presidents The Big Picture: Inflation hits home Malte Mueller/Getty Images Across the country, Americans are cutting back to make ends meet. That’s according to a new NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist poll. Despite a strong job market and near record-low unemployment, NPR’s Chief Economics Correspondent Scott Horsley reports, 37% of Americans say their personal finances have gotten worse in the last year -- an 8-point jump since February. Twice as many people now say their economic situation has worsened as say it has improved. Most blame the worst inflation the U.S. has seen in four decades. Consumer prices across the board rose 8.3% in August from a year earlier, according to government data released this week. Price increases in some areas were even steeper. Nearly three out of four people surveyed say they've cut back on spending in the last six months in response to economic conditions. That’s meant eating fewer meals out, finding ways to save on gas, canceling or scaling back vacations, and skipping a doctor's visit or a purchase of prescription drugs. In general, families making less than $50,000 a year in the survey were more likely to say they'd cut spending than those with higher incomes. As with many issues, Horsley writes, people's attitudes about the economy are shaped in part by partisan politics. Republicans are almost four times as likely as Democrats to say their financial situation has worsened in the last year, just as Democrats were more likely to grumble when President Trump was in office. Heading into November’s election, inflation is the issue top of mind for voters, followed by abortion, according to a different NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll. Read More Newsletter continues after sponsor message ICYMI: Top Stories Reuters Mar-a-Lago special master: A Florida judge on Thursday appointed Judge Raymond Dearie as the special master to review documents seized during a court-ordered search of former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. The next day, the Justice Department asked the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta to lift part of an order barring the government from using classified materials seized from Mar-A-Lago in its investigation and requiring the government to disclose those materials to the special master. Migrants sent to Martha’s Vineyard: About 50 migrants were sent to Martha's Vineyard on a flight, paid for with taxpayer money by Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis. Some said a woman lured them into boarding the plane, saying they would be flown to Boston where they could get expedited work papers. Since the migrants have arrived, local organizations and community members have been providing round-the-clock support. New Hampshire primary: Republican and former Trump press staffer Karoline Leavitt won the Republican primary in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District this week. Leavitt, 25, becomes the second member of Gen Z to win a congressional primary. Census protection bill: After years of census meddling by former President Trump's administration, the House of Representatives passed a bill that could help protect the 2030 census and future national counts from political interference. But it's unclear if the legislation can pass in the Senate. White House summit: The White House this week held a summit on combating hate-based violence. The event, called the "United We Stand" summit, gathered experts and survivors and included bipartisan local leaders, and it honored communities that have been through hate-based attacks. — Brandon Carter, NPR Politics social media producer Become a NPR Politics+ Subscriber Hey y'all. Want to show your support for our podcast and even listen to sponsor-free episodes? Try subscribing to The NPR Politics Podcast+ and get your political insights, news and analysis without the distraction. Learn more at plus.npr.org/politics or at the link below. Subscribe Today The Shot: Remembering Queen Elizabeth II AP In her lifetime, Queen Elizabeth II met with a 13 different U.S. presidents.  When she arrived in America for the first time in October 1951, her title was Princess Elizabeth and she was 25. President Harry Truman was among those on Washington National Airport tarmac when she landed – as featured in the photo above.  That meeting was followed by a White House state dinner with President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957, then next a dinner at Buckingham Palace with President John F. Kennedy in 1961. Lyndon Johnson was the only one Elizabeth did not meet, though there’s no definitive explanation as to why. The meetings resumed with Richard Nixon.  Spanning decades, the queen’s meetings with presidents were formal, fun or awkward. See photos of them here. J. David Ake/AFP via Getty Images — Heidi Glenn, NPR digital editor Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprpolitics@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? 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