Patriots,

The RNC's midterm convention in Dallas set the tone for the next two months of politics, a Syrian torturer finally faced American justice, and the Atlantic Ocean did something it hasn't done in 60 years. Here's what actually happened.

At the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on September 9, Trump upped the ante on a promise he's been floating for nearly a year. Back in November, he pledged Americans a $2,000 "dividend" funded by tariff revenue. This time, he went bigger: "Because of our tremendous strength and success economically, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000," Trump told the crowd, comparing it to a company issuing a shareholder payout.

Here's the problem: the math still doesn't work. The Yale Budget Lab estimated a $2,000-per-person rebate for earners under $100,000 would cost $450 billion — roughly twice what 2026's tariff hikes are projected to raise. A $5,000 dividend to every adult citizen would run into the trillions. Any such payment also requires congressional approval, which hasn't happened. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly looked "blindsided" the first time Trump floated this. Take the number with a grain of salt, but the political signal is clear: expect this promise to be a centerpiece of the midterm pitch through November.