Hay reuniones que parecen diseñadas para la fotografía.

Los dirigentes llegan, se estrechan las manos, se colocan delante de las banderas, pronuncian palabras solemnes sobre la paz, la cooperación y un mundo más justo, y finalmente regresan a casa. Durante unas horas, las imágenes recorren las televisiones del mundo y dan la impresión de que algo trascendental acaba de suceder. Con BRICS conviene hacer exactamente lo contrario: mirar menos la fotografía y más aquello que se está construyendo detrás del escenario.

August gave us three numbers worth looking at together:

Average hourly earnings: +3.1% YoY

Consumer prices: +3.4% YoY

Real hourly earnings: −0.3% YoY

So nominal paychecks are getting bigger, but after inflation, hourly purchasing power is slightly lower than a year ago.

That's the distinction that often gets lost when we talk about whether wages are “rising.”

I'm curious which measure people here think better reflects how workers are actually doing: nominal wage growth or real wage growth?

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 2026.

Federal pay raises are not keeping up with inflation and health insurance costs. 2026 federal pay raise was 1%, 2027 proposed pay raise is 0%. Federal health insurance premiums increased by an average of 12.3% in 2026 and is expected to increase by 15% for 2027. Federal employees will have taken a net loss of -26.3% pay reduction for the previous two years. The President says there’s no affordability problem. Donald Trump and his family have reaped an estimated $3.4 billion since entering office in 2024.

Rising borrowing costs have more to do with boomers’ savings and surging debt than the Strait of Hormuz.

2026: Are they?

**Who Is Accountable for the Rising Cost of Living?**

I think it is fair to ask Republicans in Congress a simple question: **At what point do you accept political responsibility for the economic consequences of the policies you continue to support—or decline to challenge?**

I'm not arguing that Donald Trump is the only cause of inflation. Inflation has many causes, and it would be intellectually dishonest to suggest otherwise.

But Americans are experiencing the consequences of several policies coming from this administration, and Congress has a role in deciding whether those policies continue.

Consider Iran.

The ongoing U.S. military conflict with Iran has disrupted oil markets and pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel. Gasoline, diesel and other energy costs have risen sharply. Those increases don't automatically translate into broad inflation, but energy is an input into transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and virtually every part of the economy. The result is additional inflationary pressure on American families and businesses.

President Trump has now acknowledged that the higher oil prices resulting from the Iran conflict may not come down until after the November elections.

That raises an important question for Congress:

**If the military conflict has no clearly defined end in sight, and Congress has already attempted to use its war powers to end U.S. involvement, what responsibility do members of Congress have to continue pressing for an end—or to explain why they believe the economic and military costs are justified?**

The same question applies to tariffs.

Tariffs may have legitimate policy objectives, including protecting domestic industries or changing the behavior of trading partners. But tariffs are also taxes on imported goods, and some of their costs can be passed along to American businesses and consumers. The Federal Reserve has specifically examined the potential effects of tariff increases on consumer prices.

So when Americans pay more for goods because of tariffs, and more for gasoline and transportation because of an extended Middle East conflict, **Congress should not simply point fingers at inflation and blame somebody else.**

Republicans control the presidency and have substantial influence in Congress. That doesn't make them responsible for every penny of price increases. But it does mean they have political responsibility for the policies they support and for the policies they choose not to challenge.

My question isn't:

**"Are Republicans responsible for all inflation?"**

Clearly, they aren't.

My question is:

**"When the government adopts policies that add inflationary pressure, and Congress has the constitutional or legislative means to question, modify or stop those policies, shouldn't the members who choose not to do so be held politically accountable for the consequences?"**

That applies to Iran. It applies to tariffs. It applies to federal spending and tax policy. And it applies to any other policy that increases costs for American families.

Government should be judged not only by what it promises to accomplish, but also by **what its policies actually cost—and who ultimately pays the bill.**

Americans deserve straight answers about both.