Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

GOP Sen. Dragged For Claiming He Doesn't Remember Toilet Paper Shortages Under Trump

GOP Sen. Dragged For Claiming He Doesn't Remember Toilet Paper Shortages Under Trump
Andrew Harnik/Pool/Getty Images

Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, was harshly criticized after he claimed to have no recollection of supply chain shortages during former President Donald Trump's time in office.

Cotton made the claim during an appearance on Fox News personality Laura Ingraham's show, suggesting supply chain shortages only happened after the balance of power shifted to the Democrats.


You can hear what he said in the video below.

Cotton said:

“We’ve had this pandemic for two years, Laura. I don’t remember inflation or supply chain shortages or labor shortages that we’ve seen this year in the first year of the pandemic."
"What changed? Joe Biden and the Democrats took power in January.”

Cotton's claim is false.

There were several weeks at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020 when millions of people couldn't find a single roll of toilet paper anywhere, the result at least in part of panic buying as state and local governments issued stay-at-home orders.

Other items—such as hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, masks, cleaning supplies—were also in short supply, flying off the shelves almost as soon as they were stocked.

The Washington Post even published an article in April 2020 that attempted to trace the origins of the toilet paper shortage in particular, observing that "toilet paper—or rather, the lack of it—turns out to reveal a great deal about who we are and how we behave in a crisis."

Republicans meanwhile have attempted to place the blame for shortages on President Joe Biden and his administration amid a global supply-chain crisis, the result of COVID-19 disruptions paired with a boom in demand.

Cotton's remarks did not go over well with the online community, some of whom posted pictures to remind the Senator there had indeed been supply chain shortages before Democrats regained control of two branches of government—legislative and executive.









Cotton's remarks bring to mind recent remarks from Ohio Republican Representative Jim Jordan, who received heavy criticism in October after he claimed groceries "weren't expensive during the Trump administration."

Jordan's claim came as many continue to feel the economic fallout from the pandemic and as the impacts of inflation continue to be felt at the grocery store.

However, rising grocery prices are not necessarily new and were, in fact observed during former President Trump's time in office.

Trump generated significant controversy in 2018 after he initiated a trade war, raising taxes on aluminum and steel. Ultimately, the agriculture industry and farmers in particular ended up paying the price when countries leveled retaliatory tariffs.

The ripple effects of these tariffs have been felt across numerous sections of the food industry, including beef, beer, cheese, pork, soybeans, and even whiskey and bourbon.

More from People/donald-trump

Screenshots of Will Thilly breakdancing
New York Post/YouTube

Guy Breakdances His Way Into Town Hall Meeting To Ask Why Taxes Went Up—And Becomes An Instant Legend

Cranford, New Jersey town council candidate Will Thilly went viral after dancing his way up to the podium at a recent town hall meeting to ask why property taxes in Cranford have gone "up so much."

Thilly's unique tax protest began when he danced his way up to the podium and continued to dance even after a Cranford Township official said, "Mr. Thilly, I started your time." People laughed when Thilly held up a finger to stop the official and continued to dance anyway.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Brian Kilmeade
Fox News

Fox News Host Apologizes After His Suggestion That Homeless People Be Euthanized Sparks Outrage

Fox and Friends host Brian Kilmeade was criticized for suggesting that homeless people with mental health issues get "involuntary lethal injection" after the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a train in North Carolina—and was swiftly condemned for an insincere apology several days after the fact as many are calling for Fox News to terminate his contract.

Zarutska was stabbed to death at the East/West Boulevard station on the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte last month; her killer, a homeless man with a history of mental health issues, has since been charged with first-degree murder.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sofía Vergara
Bryan Steffy/Getty Images

Sofía Vergara Reveals She Missed Presenting At The Emmys Due To 'Craziest' Medical Emergency

Almost everyone has a favorite television show they like to turn on at the end of a rough day or binge-watch for a bit of nostalgia, and most of us pretty frequently check out new shows to see if we can spot a favorite.

Needless to say, the Emmys award show is a huge deal every year, honoring all of the people involved in the projects that are currently gracing the small screen, and basically anyone who's anyone will attend.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rep. Nancy Mace
CNN

Nancy Mace Just Tried To Claim She's Never 'Dehumanized' Her Colleagues—And The Internet Brought The Receipts

South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace was called out for hypocrisy after she claimed on CNN that Democrats in Congress have been "dehumanizing" Republicans, a move she would "never" do—despite her record of doing just that.

Speaking to anchor Katie Bolduan while the search for the suspect who killed far-right activist Charlie Kirk was ongoing, Mace objected to Bolduan's observation that she was using "us v. them" language, only saying that things are "very one-sided right now." She also suggested that the situation is so bad for her that she's actually afraid of "just walking out in public."

Keep ReadingShow less
A younger man stand on top of a mountain with his arms outreached and his face looking to the sky. It's a beautiful day and lakes and mountains are the backdrop.
Photo by Kyle Loftus on Unsplash

People Who Quit Their High-Paying Jobs For Happiness Explain How It Turned Out

Sometimes money isn't the goal.

It is a BIG goal for many.

Keep ReadingShow less