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title: Friend, know the facts before Trump’s State of the Union
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|   Problems viewing this email? View it in your browser   InProgress from the Center for American Progress What To Read Before the 2026 State of the Union Photo: Getty Images As President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, Americans are looking for solutions to their biggest concerns: rising costs, their health and the health of their families, and the safety of their communities.  The Trump administration has abandoned the majority of Americans, prioritizing the wealthiest few while sowing chaos and division in our communities. That’s why the Center for American Progress has developed concrete, forward-looking policy solutions designed to address the issues that shape our daily lives. Below is essential reading to understand what’s at stake. Jobs and affordability Americans continue to feel squeezed by high prices and economic uncertainty, and the Trump administration’s policies have compounded the pressure. The “Big Beautiful Bill” gave tax cuts to corporations and the ultrawealthy while making it harder for working families to get by. At the same time, Trump’s destructive tariff policies have contributed to higher costs for everyday essentials, from groceries to housing. This saw the average family paying $1,200 in tariff costs last year.  From expanding the housing supply to lowering grocery costs, CAP’s forward-looking agenda focuses on practical steps to bring down prices and increase wages.  Read the following research to learn more. The harms of Trump administration policies: A Year in Review: How the Trump Administration’s Economic Policies Made Life Less Affordable for Americans Year 1 of the Second Trump Administration Made the Working Class Weaker 7 Ways the Big Beautiful Bill Cuts Taxes for the Rich President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Raises the Fiscal Gap to 2.4 Percent Electric and Natural Gas Utility Rate Hikes Tracker The path forward: Build, Baby, Build: A Plan To Lower Housing Costs for All Stopping Sticker Shock at the Grocery Store: A Plan To Make Food Affordable Immigration and public safety The Trump administration has doubled down on a reckless immigration agenda that threatens the civil liberties of every American. Expanded deportation efforts, new unaccountable funding streams, and ICE and CBP officers operating recklessly without clear identification have fueled fear and eroded public trust. Communities deserve effective public safety strategies that actually reduce crime and strengthen trust between law enforcement and the communities in which they serve—not policies that prioritize spectacle over results and needlessly endanger community members. We can safeguard national security, enhance public safety and rebuild trust between communities and the institutions meant to protect them without the cruelty and theatrics the Trump administration have forced upon city after city. Read the following research to learn more. The harms of Trump administration policies: The Trump Administration’s ICE and CBP Have Become a Threat to Americans: Congress Must Ensure That DHS Follows the Law and Adopts Commonsense Reforms Congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act Creates an Unaccountable Slush Fund for the Trump Administration’s Deportation Force Masked and Unidentifiable: The Risks of Federal Law Enforcement Operating Without Identification The path forward: Delivering Accountability: A Plan To Stop Crime in Our Communities A New Immigration System To Safeguard America’s Security, Expand Economic Growth, and Make Us Stronger Public health and access to health care While the Trump administration claims it wants to “Make America Healthy Again,” its policies are doing the opposite. The Big Beautiful Bill’s Medicaid cuts take health care away from millions of Americans, with life-and-death consequences in communities across the country. Making matters worse, Congressional Republicans’ refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits has doubled insurance premiums for millions of Americans, especially for small-business owners and middle-class families. Cuts to research for cancer, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease; slashing programs that prevent asthma attacks, developmental delays, and measles; and halting efforts to promote healthy pregnancies and births have also undercut effective strategies to prevent chronic diseases. Meanwhile, the administration’s alignment with Big Oil, Gas, Chemical, and Big Wellness industry interests is weakening lifesaving public health protections and increasing exposure to harmful chemicals, toxins, and infectious diseases. Read the following research to learn more. The harms of Trump administration policies: 5 Ways the Trump Administration Is Driving Up Health Care Costs for Families Congress’ Failure To Extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Will Greatly Increase Health Insurance Costs for Small-Business People How the Trump Administration’s Embrace of Oil, Gas, and Chemical Industry Interests Will Endanger Children’s Health The Trump Administration’s Attack on Environmental Protections Will Increase Cancer-Causing Pollution The One Big Beautiful Bill Act Will Increase the Number of Americans Without Health Coverage in Every State and Congressional District What the Trump Administration, RFK Jr., and the MAHA Report Got Wrong About Improving Children’s Health RFK Jr. Is Systematically Undermining Vaccine Science and Endangering Health The State of the Union is an opportunity for the president to outline a vision for the country. But it is also a moment for accountability. President Trump will undoubtedly tout that America is stronger than ever. But strength doesn’t look like rising grocery bills, higher utility costs, and housing slipping further out of reach. Americans deserve a clear-eyed assessment of how the Trump administration’s policies are affecting their lives—and a serious conversation about alternatives. Keep up with the experts in real time Follow CAP President and CEO Neera Tanden on Twitter, along with CAP staff on Twitter and our Bluesky starter pack of CAP experts, to hear from trusted thought leaders fact-checking the president during his address to Congress. FOLLOW NEERA ON TWITTER FOLLOW CAP ON BLUESKY Subscribe to our friends at CAP Action on Substack CAP Action’s new Substack, “The Progress Report,” is a daily newsletter delivering messaging recommendations responsive to the rapidly changing news environment.  Subscribe to get the latest updates and actionable guidance. 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