JM Rieger

Trump has spent years complaining about the IRS. Now he may be shielded from audits of past tax returns. My latest analysis for @ms.now comparing Trump's rhetoric with the federal income taxes Trump paid the previous year:

Todd Blanche says the Justice Department is not moving forward with the anti-weaponization fund. BLANCHE: We are not moving forward with the fund, period... MENG: Not moving forward ever? BLANCHE: Correct.

Trump on Iran in May: May 7: "I believe they want the deal more than I do" May 14: "They can make a deal or they get annihilated" May 30: "I'd like to say I'm in a hurry...but if you're going to be in a hurry, you're not going to make a good deal"

Trump on Iran in April/May: April 13: "They'd like to make a deal very badly" April 15: "We could take out every one of their bridges in one hour" May 1: "Frankly, maybe we're better off not making a deal at all"

Trump on Iran in March/April: March 31: "They want to make a deal more than I want to make a deal" April 1: "If there is no deal, we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants" April 11: "Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me"

Trump on Iran in March: March 16: "They want to make a deal" March 23: "Iran has one more opportunity to end its threats to America and our allies and we hope they take it" March 26: "I'm the opposite of desperate. I don't care"

Over the past three months, Donald Trump has repeated the same three steps when talking about a deal to end the war in Iran: Optimism → Frustration → Indifference My latest analysis for @ms.now

Trump ordered an investigation of Miles Taylor in April 2025 via executive action. Trump suggested John Brennan may have to "pay a price" the same day that an investigation into Brennan was reported.

Trump said Fani Willis should be prosecuted in September. 10 days later she was subpoenaed. Trump suggested Lisa Cook had an "infraction" in August. 9 days later she was subpoenaed.

Trump suggested Adam Schiff committed fraud in July. 14 days later a DOJ probe into Schiff was reported. Trump said his administration was considering a lawsuit against Jerome Powell in December. 11 days later Powell was subpoenaed.

Trump called for John Bolton to go to jail in 2020. 1,941 days later he was indicted. Trump called James Comey a criminal in August. 42 days later he was indicted. Trump said Letitia James looked guilty in September. 20 days later she was indicted.

Over the past 16 months, the Justice Department has opened 9 different investigations after President Trump publicly called for them. My latest archival analysis for @ms.now

June 2016: "Hillary Clinton has perfected the politics of personal profit." April 2025: *Commercial airs on Fox News with Trump selling "God Bless the USA Bible"* November 2025: *Commercial airs on Fox News for Trump watches*

December 2016: "[My kids aren't] making deals" November 2025: "My sons are into it. I'm glad they are, because it's probably a great industry, crypto."

October 2016: *Tells Hillary Clinton to return money from Qatar* May 2025: *Accepts plane from Qatar*

August 2016: "Access and favors were sold for cash [by Clinton]." November 2025: "I know nothing about [pardoning founder of Binance who helped facilitate purchase of World Liberty Financial's stablecoin]."

December 2016: "I don't want to do deals, because I want to focus on this [the presidency]." January 2025: *Downplays launching crypto coin days before start of second term*

In 2016, Donald Trump campaigned on restoring ethics in government. Since then, he has refused to divest from his business interests as his net worth has increased by billions of dollars. My latest supercut for @ms.now

Year-over-year grocery prices have risen every month of Trump's second term, even as he has repeatedly claimed that grocery prices are falling. My latest supercut for @ms.now

Blanche on May 19: "I don't think it's the attorney general's job to encourage commissioners to do or not do anything." Blanche on Feb. 12, 2025: "[Anybody who commits violence against police] should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Vance on May 19: "...we're trying to compensate people where the book was thrown at them" Vance on May 1, 2024: "If you beat up a cop, of course you deserve to go to prison"

Trump on May 18: "I do believe there has to be compensation for people that were destroyed." Trump on Jan. 7, 2021: "To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay."

After the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, President Trump and other officials in his administration condemned rioters who assaulted police officers. Now those same officials are leaving open the possibility of compensating violent rioters with taxpayer dollars. My latest for @ms.now

Over the first 3 months of 2026, President Trump made thousands of stock trades totaling at least $220 million. A review of his public remarks following reporting from Popular Information reveals Trump often promoted companies after buying their stock. My latest for @ms.now

Less than three months ago, President Trump was bragging at the State of the Union about low gas prices. Now, two recent polls and new economic data point to how perilous rising gas prices could continue to be for Trump politically. My latest analysis for @ms.now

Since launching the war in Iran, President Trump has repeatedly said that gas prices would soon fall. Over that time, the average price of a gallon of gas has risen by more than $1.50. My latest supercut for @ms.now

New @ms.now supercut: How long will it take for Trump to mention the ballroom?

In all, nearly a dozen congressional Republicans preached patience on gas prices in interviews with @ms.now in recent weeks: www.ms.now/news/republi...

Ron Johnson Sept. 5, 2022 when the average price of gas was $3.82: "Record gas prices" April 15, 2026 when the average price of gas was $4.16: "We have to do this"

Buddy Carter Oct. 8, 2021 when the average price of gas was $3.24: "It's going to cost you more to travel" April 14, 2026 when the average price of gas was $4.16: "It's a small price to pay whenever you consider that he's saving millions of lives"

Chip Roy Oct. 5, 2022 when the average price of gas was $3.79: "The American people can't afford gas" April 16, 2026 when the average price of gas was $4.09: "We'll get prices down..we're going through the important resetting the stage on Iran"

Cynthia Lummis May 28, 2024 when the average price of gas was $3.61: "Why aren't prices coming down at the pump?" April 14, 2026 when the average price of gas was $4.16: "Gasoline is a commodity that has a worldwide price structure"

John Hoeven Nov. 18, 2021 when the average price of gas was $3.41: "It is the policies of this administration causing [high gas prices]" April 14, 2026 when the average price of gas was $4.16: "The difference is solving the problem...not creating a higher price environment"

Notably, Burchett slammed Democrats in March 2022 for suggesting that oil and gas companies were price gouging

Tim Burchett Nov 17, 2021 when the average price of gas was $3.41: "Americans are so displeased with gas prices, they're slapping..Biden 'I did that' stickers on the pumps" April 21, 2026 when the average price of gas was $4.09: "Drag those oil companies in and chew them out"

Lindsey Graham Aug. 25, 2024 when the average price of gas was $3.38: "Americans are not joyful when they go to the gas station" April 30, 2026 when the average price of gas was $4.30: "It's not about how long [the war] goes on, it's about how it ends"

Eric Schmitt Aug. 25, 2022 when the average price of gas was $3.90: "[Gas prices are] really high" April 30, 2026 when the average price of gas was $4.30: [Walks away from Jack Fitzpatrick question]

Keith Self July 11, 2024 when the average price of gas was $3.54: "Politicians should not get a free pass on the ridiculously high energy prices under the Biden administration" April 30, 2026 when the average price of gas was $4.30: [Walks away from Jack Fitzpatrick question]

John Kennedy Aug. 9, 2021 when the average price of gas was $3.19: "I don't like to brag about all the expensive places I've been, but earlier today I went to the gas station" April 27, 2026 when the average price of gas was $4.03: "There's nothing we can do"

Four years after lambasting the Biden administration, GOP lawmakers are urging voters to be patient as gas prices climb over $4.50 per gallon. My latest supercut for @ms.now w/ Jack Fitzpatrick www.ms.now/news/republi...

A new poll finds that Americans broadly disapprove of recent religious statements from Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth. I dug into the archives for @ms.now to show how this messaging keeps popping up at Trump administration events.

The day after former FBI Director James Comey was charged a second time by the Justice Department, @ms.now asked Republicans whether they supported the indictment. Half a dozen demurred. New report w/ Mychael Schnell www.ms.now/news/republi...

Eric Schmitt on April 27: "I don't see my Democrat colleagues trying to tone it down." Eric Schmitt 11 seconds before: "I think the left has a real assassination culture problem right now."

Mike Johnson on April 27: "It's time to turn down the rhetoric." Mike Johnson 21 seconds before: "They've [Democrats] incited violence"

Leavitt on April 27: "...we as Americans must recommit ourselves to resolving our differences peacefully" Leavitt one minute before: "The left-wing cult of hatred against the president ... has gotten multiple people hurt and killed."

Trump on April 25: "I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our difference peacefully." Trump on April 26: "The hate speech of the Democrats ... it's very dangerous for the country."

New supercut for @ms.now: Republicans tell Democrats to tone it down moments after blaming them for Saturday's shooting

Last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struck a starkly different tone on vaccines than the one he has taken in recent years. My mashup juxtaposing what he said previously for @ms.now:

On whether the U.S. has won the war: March 24, 2026: "This war has been won. The only one that likes to keep it going is the fake news." April 16, 2026: "We're going to have victory very shortly."

On regime change: Feb. 28, 2026: "Take over your government. It will be yours to take." March 13, 2026: "I really think that's a big hurdle to climb for people that don't have weapons."

On Iran's nuclear weapons program: March 31, 2026: "I had one goal: They will have no nuclear weapon. And that goal has been attained." April 12, 2026: "I will [bomb Iran] if they don't give that plan up [for nuclear weapons]"

On who controls the Strait of Hormuz: April 1, 2026: "The countries of the world that do receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage" April 21, 2026: "We totally control the strait, just so you understand, for all the fake news out there"

On how long the war will last: March 2, 2026: "Right from the beginning we projected four to five weeks" March 31, 2026: "I think [the U.S. will be done with the war in] two or three weeks"

As the war in Iran enters its eighth week, President Donald Trump is increasingly contradicting his previous positions. A review by @ms.now finds that Trump has shifted his position on the war five times in less than two months. My latest supercut:

New @ms.now supercut: Trump and Hegseth keep invoking religion in the Iran war

Kevin Hassett Nov. 16, 2025: "..we've shut the border for Mexico because of an infestation.." [Average price of beef: $6.54/pound] April 10, 2026: "We changed our trade policy with Argentina..and [saw] a big reduction in beef prices" [Average price of beef: $6.70/pound]

Brooke Rollins Nov. 17, 2025: "..the idea that we won't get prices down until 2027 [is wrong]" [Average price of beef: $6.54/pound] April 16, 2026: "Beef prices are too high" [Average price of beef: $6.70/pound]

Karoline Leavitt Oct. 23, 2025: "The immediate solution...is we have to increase our supply" [Average price of beef: $6.32/pound] Feb. 10, 2026: "Beef prices are coming down slightly" [Average price of beef: $6.74/pound]

Donald Trump Aug. 9, 2024: "Starting on Day One...[we will] bring down the prices of all goods" [Average price of beef: $5.58/pound] Feb. 24, 2026: "Even beef...is starting to come down significantly" [Average price of beef: $6.74/pound]

During the 2024 campaign, Donald Trump promised to lower grocery prices on Day One. Since then, the price of beef has continued to hit record highs according federal data, even as the Trump administration has repeatedly promised to lower prices. My latest for @ms.now

Mark Alford Dec. 19, 2024: "[Gas] shot up during the Biden administration" [Average gas price in nominal dollars: $3.04] March 11: "There may be some sacrifices to be made at the pump on a temporary basis" [Average gas price: $3.25]

Lindsey Graham Aug. 25, 2024: "Americans are not joyful when they go to the gas station" [Average gas price in nominal dollars: $3.38] March 12: "If you think gas prices are high now, give the Ayatollah a nuclear weapon" [Average gas price: $3.59]

John Thune Dec. 8, 2021: "Gas prices have risen 40 percent..that takes a tremendous toll on family budgets" [Average gas price in nominal dollars: $3.35] April 2: "You'll start to see those gas prices come down to a more normal range" [Average gas price: $4.08]

Rick Scott Oct. 27, 2021: "When prices of things went up like gas, it impacts your ability..to do [things]" [Average gas price in nominal dollars: $3.38] March 30: "My heart goes out to [people impacted]. But the president is doing the right thing" [Average gas price: $3.98]

Steve Scalise May 12, 2021: "Gas prices are through the roof" [Average gas price in nominal dollars: $2.96] March 11: "I know we've seen a blip" [Average gas price: $3.25]

Donald Trump Oct. 25, 2024: "Would you like to have $1.84 a gallon instead of $4?" [Average gas price in nominal dollars: $3.21] March 31: "We have $4 [gas]..And we have a country that's not going to be throwing a nuclear weapon at us in six months" [Average gas price: $3.98]

For years, Republicans were outraged by rising gas prices under Biden. Now, those same Republicans are quick to dismiss the spike in gas prices as the cost of security, even as those prices in nominal dollars are higher now than under Biden. My latest supercut for @ms.now

March 2026: "It doesn't seem it right now, but I think I'm a peacemaker" April 2026: "...they're going to have no bridges, they're going to have no power plants..."

October 2024: "We go to war, we bomb the crap out of it, then we leave. You know, it's almost like what are we doing?" April 2026: "We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong."

October 2024: "She [Kamala Harris] would get us into WW3 guaranteed...all of your sons and daughters will end up getting drafted" February 2026: "The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties"

November 2024: "I'm not going to start a war, I'm going to stop wars." March 2026: "Lay down your arms...or face certain death"

Donald Trump spent the 2024 campaign positioning himself as the candidate who would keep the U.S. out of war. Now he is threatening to destroy Iranian civilization. My latest supercut for @ms.now

New @ms.now archival supercut as the war in Iran enters its sixth week: Donald Trump has spent 10 years dismissing international law

TRUMP: "You know what's a war crime? Having a nuclear weapon. Allowing a sick country with demented leadership [to] have a nuclear weapon. That's a war crime."

Q: How would it not be a war crime to strike Iran's bridges and power plants? TRUMP: Because they killed 45,000 people in the last month...They kill protesters, they're animals.

Trump dodges question about war crimes at White House Easter Egg Roll: "What else?"

New @ms.now supercut: Donald Trump really wants you to know that he thinks Iran is losing the war

New @ms.now supercut: GOP Senate candidates keep dismissing affordability concerns w/ @kevinjfrey.bsky.social www.ms.now/news/starbuc...

My first supercut for @ms.now: 30 Days of Trump's Iran Zigzags in 60 Seconds

And I would be remiss if I did not include one of my favorite videos to produce every year: The wildest political moments of the year You can watch a cutdown of 2025's moments below and you can watch each video I have done over the past 8 years here: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has shifted its immigration enforcement rhetoric and tactics following the deaths of two U.S. citizens. I examined these shifts in a video that I published yesterday.

In January, one of the first actions that the House took was voting to codify into law Trump's long-desired changes to showerheads. I put together a video looking at the many times Trump has focused on the issue over the years. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Before taking office, Donald Trump promised to immediately turn around the U.S. economy. But 11 months into his presidency, he was still asking for more time. I put together a mashup.

Later in November, my colleagues and I revealed that Del. Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands had texted with Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 hearing with Michael Cohen. I analyzed multiple video feeds to sync the texts with the hearing footage. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

In November, it appeared that Trump had struggled to stay away during an Oval Office event. I analyzed multiple video feeds and found that Trump had spent nearly 20 minutes struggling to keep his eyes open. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

In late October, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries announced his support for Zohran Mamdani, nearly four months after he became the Democratic nominee for New York mayor. I pulled together a mashup of the 17 weeks that Jeffries and Schumer spent refusing to endorse him.

In October, Trump and his allies floated federalizing National Guard troops. It was something Trump and those officials opposed years before. I dug into the archives to produce this video.

As President Trump prepared to the largest tariff increases in decades, I dug into Trump's past remarks on tariffs and found that Trump had been saying nearly the same thing about tariffs since the 1980s. It all began with a fixation on Japan.

Last year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before Congress and repeatedly denied his previous statements on vaccines. I dug into the archives and contrasted what he said previously with his testimony.

On immunity for immigration officials: JD Vance Jan 8, 2026 "A federal law enforcement official engaging in federal law enforcement action..that guy is protected by absolute immunity" JD Vance Jan 22, 2026 "I didn't say..officers who engaged in wrongdoing would enjoy immunity"