Politics and views in the United States

Trump defends inflation and a disputed oil claim, Senators push Congress to confront Social Security's shortfall, and the House seeks acting attorney general’s testimony in Epstein records investigation.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

I love the inflation.

You know why?

Because we've been taking out millions of barrels of oil.

Nobody knows it.

You know who doesn't know about it?

Iran until right now.

President Donald Trump brushed off May's 4.2% inflation rate, arguing the U.S. is benefiting from selling millions of barrels of high-priced oil secretly moved through the Strait of Hormuz.

White House officials did not confirm that, although the Navy does protect some shipments.

High gas prices continue to drag on Trump's approval, with one poll putting him below 30%.

Maine Democrats gave Senate candidate Graham Plattner a decisive primary win Tuesday, in spite of personal controversies.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is pushing back on Trump's call to fire the Senate parliamentarian.

She ruled the Save America Act can't be passed as a budget bill immune from the filibuster since it deals with election policy.

But Thune says either way, the bill limiting mail-in ballots and requiring strict national voter ID doesn't have the votes.

The Save America Act didn't even get 50 votes last week on the floor of the Senate.

But even if you confine it to just the two issues of photo ID and citizenship in order to register to vote, the only way you could get there is to undo or get rid of the legislative filibuster.

Thune says votes aren't there to change the filibuster.

House Oversight Chairman Jim Comer says they'll make Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testify about DOJ's handling of files on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

California Congressman Pete Aguilar says Democrats want to question Blanche under oath.

We are glad that Chairman Comer has finally agreed to bring in Mr.

Blanche for what we believe needs to be an under oath deposition videotaped and released to the American public or better yet, a actual public hearing.

Stories from people hit by climate change driven severe weather are on display at the National Mall.

The Museum of Unnatural Disasters documents extreme heat in the Southwest and last year's L.A. wildfires.

North Carolina grocery store owner Roseanne Keeley says their critical infrastructure failed after Hurricane Haleem.

There was a lot of loss of products, some loss of sales, and then so many other businesses had it a lot worse.

Restaurants couldn't operate.

They lost all of the goods they had in their crews and freezers, and they couldn't cook.

The Climate Center estimates climate disasters have cost the U.S. $3 trillion since 1980.

Social Security trustees now say the program's trust fund could run out in late 2032, after which benefits would fall by a fifth.

A bipartisan group of senators say they want to finally address the issue.

I'm Joe Ulory for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.