America: sold to the highest bidder

Earlier today, my extended family gathered for our rescheduled Christmas Eve celebration. We had postponed it because of the storms hitting California this week, and thank goodness we did. During the worst of it, huge tree branches came crashing down, right where we usually gather outside, crushing one of those tall outdoor heaters. It was a close call. And it reminded me of something that keeps coming up lately: how quickly things can break when the systems we rely on start to slip. Whether it’s the weather, the economy, or our politics, everything feels a little more fragile right now. And just like those tree branches, the warning signs were there. We just don’t always see them until after the damage is done.

As we gathered, the conversations naturally shifted to what’s been going on in the world. One family member brought up how so many of their friends’ small businesses are really being impacted by the tariffs. They’re starting to notice that customers are drastically changing their spending habits. And it’s what the economic polls we have been talking about for the past couple of weeks are showing, too.

That turned into a broader conversation about money, because it’s the center of every conversation right now. People are worried. Not just about inflation, but about whether we’re heading into a full recession or even something worse. When you have enough, you can brace for impact. But most people don’t. With ACA subsidies expiring and tariffs driving up prices, the pressure is building, and families are bracing for a hard year ahead.

Throughout our conversation, the teens in our family were also talking amongst themselves, comparing thrift stores and sharing their favorite places to find deals. And while part of it is trend-based, thrifting is “in” right now. What stood out was how many of them mentioned that their friends’ parents simply don’t have the same kind of money they used to have just a year ago. So this isn’t just a fashion choice. It’s a reflection of families cutting back because they have to. That’s a real signal that the economy is squeezing people.

Then, right as I sat down to write this, I checked Trump’s Truth Social feed. And there it was, in typical fashion. A post claiming that tariffs are creating “GREAT WEALTH,” that there’s “No inflation!!!” and that everything is booming.

Donald J. Trump: December 27, 2025, 8:42 AM

“Tariffs are creating GREAT WEALTH, and unprecedented National Security for the USA. Trade deficit has been cut by 60%, totally unheard of. 4.3% GDP, and going way up. No inflation!!! We are respected as a Country again.”

Anyone paying attention can see this for what it is: propaganda. When Trump feels pressure building, especially around the economy, he does what he’s always done. He says the opposite of what’s actually happening and hopes his base believes it. This approach isn’t new. It mirrors a well-known propaganda technique often attributed to Nazi minister Joseph Goebbels: repeat a lie often enough, and it becomes the truth. While Goebbels may not have used that exact phrase, he and Hitler both promoted the idea of the “Big Lie”, a massive falsehood that, if repeated constantly, becomes believable simply because people can’t imagine someone making it up.

This is a real psychological phenomenon known as the illusory truth effect, where repetition makes people more likely to believe something, even if it’s clearly false. Goebbels used it to spread anti-Semitic propaganda and build Hitler’s cult of personality. The goal was to distort reality so deeply that people stopped trusting their own eyes. That same tactic is used today by Trump and his MAGA enablers in every aspect of public life, including politics, media, education, and health, where misinformation isn’t just common, it’s the strategy. It’s how authoritarian figures like Trump create alternative realities for their followers: by flooding them with so much repetition that the truth gets buried under noise. But at some point, people stop being able to convince themselves. Especially when the reality they’re living in, at the grocery store, at the doctor’s office, with their bills, is getting harder and harder to manage.

And money isn’t just behind the propaganda, it’s behind everything. It decides who gets to be heard. MAGA influencers are being paid large sums to spread lies and disinformation, while the people trying to tell the truth, those reporting what’s really happening, are doing it with little to no financial support. In mainstream media, journalists who refuse to fall in line with Trump and his regime are being fired or silenced. Money decides not only who gets to run for office, but who gets to stay in the race. We’re not just dealing with lies being repeated until they sound true. We’re living in a political system where the truth itself costs too much to compete. Campaign money shapes what we see, who we hear from, and what kind of future we’re even allowed to imagine.

We saw this clearly in 2024. The takeaway wasn’t just Trump’s behavior; it was how impossible it became to compete with the money pouring in from billionaires like Elon Musk. That kind of funding doesn’t just tip the scales. It wipes out everyone else. And that’s the real problem: when a handful of ultra-wealthy individuals can bankroll entire political outcomes, we don’t have a representative democracy anymore. We have a political marketplace.

What happens to all that campaign money once it’s raised? A huge portion of it goes straight into digital ads, especially on social media. And here’s the part that doesn’t get talked about enough: some of the same platforms cashing in on political ads are also donating to the very candidates who thrive on chaos, division, and outrage. It’s not just about hosting the content. It’s about protecting a business model that depends on keeping the public angry and glued to their screens.

We’ve seen executives and major shareholders from social media companies pour money into campaigns like Trump’s, because the more polarizing the political climate, the better it is for their bottom line. That kind of tension drives engagement, clicks, shares, arguments, outrage, and that’s what translates into ad revenue. Platforms don’t make nearly as much money when people feel calm and well-informed. They make money when users are panicked, outraged, or in a constant fight.

It’s the same reason network news ratings spike during moments of crisis or scandal. Remember how they used to call Biden “Sleepy Joe”? The truth is, the country could actually sleep when he was in office. There wasn’t constant drama coming from the White House every single day. And because things were more stable, cable news and social media didn’t have as much to feed on. That’s why certain media owners and tech leaders are quietly more comfortable when someone like Trump is in power. The chaos keeps people tuned in, and the money flowing.

This is something I’ve studied for years now. Propaganda and outrageous conspiracy theories have much greater reach than well-researched, fact-based reporting or analysis. The more extreme the message, the more views it gets. So when we talk about campaign money and political power, we can’t ignore this part of the system: the algorithms and ad engines are designed to reward extremism, not accuracy. And when those same companies are donating to political campaigns, we have a real problem. They’re not neutral observers. They’re active participants in shaping the future, and they’ve chosen chaos because it pays.

This explains why we no longer see meaningful debates or thoughtful interviews being the centerpieces of political life. The more attention a candidate can buy, the more likely they are to survive in the race. In this system, money doesn’t just talk. It decides.

Meanwhile, the real crises that voters are facing are being ignored. A perfect example: Affordable Care Act subsidies. Starting January 1, millions of Americans will face steep increases in their health insurance premiums because tax credits are expiring. Families could see a doubling or tripling of their healthcare premiums. Real-world examples are a family currently paying $340 per month that is set to jump to $1,900. Another family will go from paying $625 to nearly $2,700 per month. And Congress has done nothing. They’ve allowed the deadline to pass.

And even before these prices take effect, Americans are adjusting their behavior. Data from Adobe Analytics and Placer.ai shows a major shift: more people are shopping at thrift stores, and even higher-income households are cutting back. Thrift store traffic rose by more than 10%, and discount chains like TJ Maxx saw massive spikes in shoppers. That’s what a quiet recession looks like. People don’t panic; they adapt. But the strain is real. And this is exactly what my real-world discussions are saying.

The deeper truth is that across politics, healthcare, education, science, culture, money decides what’s visible, supported, and survives. The best ideas don’t always win. The loudest do. And the loudest are often backed by the most money. This isn’t new, but it’s getting worse and more dangerous. That’s why it matters how we spend our money. We need to be intentional about who we support and what we amplify. Independent voices bringing real news, scientists and medical professionals communicating facts, and candidates who actually reflect our values all need just as much support, if not more, than the ones backed by billionaires and corporate donors. Because if we don’t fund the truth, the lies will keep winning.

And when, not if, we make it through this moment and move past Trumpism and MAGA politics, campaign finance reform has to be at the top of the list of what we fix first. We cannot keep letting billionaires treat American elections like a game they get to play because they’re bored or angry, want more power, or are just looking for a new type of thrill.

Democracy is not a product, and leadership isn’t something you should be able to buy. The more we allow that, the more we lose control over our country and our future. We need to start treating this like the emergency it is.

I’ll see you tomorrow,
Heather

P.S. If you’ve made it this far, chances are we see things the same way. You can make a difference right now by subscribing to my Substack. There is a free option and the option to help me reach a wider audience with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to cover more ground and keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country.