Politicians depend on a dumbed-down public: Don’t give them what they want!

Happy Wednesday!

Last night’s debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz was a masterclass in political theater with Vance, by all accounts, winning the debate handily.

Even the mainstream media isn’t trying to spin it away. 

I have long abandoned any belief (if I ever had any to begin with) in politicians overall. I am generally not surprised when they tell bold-faced lies or twist the truth to suit their needs, so nothing I heard really shocked me. 

Still, it’s worth taking a minute to look a little closer at a few things.

Inflation Misinformation

Walz claimed that his policies have led to economic relief and inflation management for working families. But anyone paying for groceries or gas knows the truth—prices are still climbing, and wages haven’t kept up. In fact, data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that the Minnesota economy has trailed overall U.S. growth under Walz.

Of course, we know that the real issue here isn’t about who is in office, but about the economic policies themselves.

Inflation happens when governments print money recklessly, trying to “solve” problems by pumping dollars into the system without a thought for the long-term consequences. We’ve seen this before, and we’re seeing it now—when government overspends, families pay the price through devalued currency and rising costs.

The solution isn’t more government intervention, but rather letting the market work freely while reducing the size and scope of government spending. Fewer top-down policies, less reckless borrowing, and letting people keep more of their own money would help stabilize the economy far more effectively than whatever Walz, or Vance, or anyone else says they’ll tweak to “fix” it.

The Iran Blame-Game

Walz also attempted to shift blame for the escalating tensions with Iran, claiming that past leadership weakened America’s position.

What he failed to mention is that, under the current administration, the U.S. freed up billions of dollars in assets for Iran—money that has likely gone straight into funding its military actions.

For all the complaints I might have about Trump’s time in office, I don’t think the fact that we had four years of no new wars and an actual ratcheting down of international tensions should go without recognizing. 

Of course, the bigger issue here isn’t just about one administration’s foreign policy, but the overall strategy of entangling alliances and military interventions. 

The U.S. has spent decades meddling in foreign conflicts, often with disastrous results. We cover several of them in our Tuttle Twins Guide to True Conspiracies.

Instead of continuing to pour resources into endless wars and power struggles abroad, we should be focusing on diplomacy and self-defense while respecting the sovereignty of other nations.

Real peace comes not from intervention, but from restraint, and from a policy that emphasizes healthy trade and non-intervention while defending our own security at home.

I’ve long been a believer in the idea posed by Frederic Bastiat when he said, “When goods don’t cross borders, soldiers will.” 

Tiananmen Square? I Was There!

In one of the more embarrassing moments of the night, Tim Walz was caught fabricating details about his personal history.

He claimed to have been in China during the Tiananmen Square massacre, yet it turns out that he didn’t arrive until months later.

Walz reminds me of a guy who is so used to embellishing or fabricating parts of his story that he doesn’t even know what’s true and what’s made up anymore.

It’s times like these that highlight why it’s more important than ever for families to be educated on critical thinking and history. Politicians count on people not having all the facts, or not being able to critically think about them if they do, and hope that their lies will simply go unchecked.

And for the most part, they usually do.

That’s why the work we do is so important.

Our resources teach kids (and their parents!) how to think critically and spot these kinds of manipulations.

We teach real history—without the political spin—to help kids understand the true principles of freedom, economics, and government. We teach them about the rise of tyrants of the past, and how they can use what they know to identify and stop dangerous repetitions in the future. We teach the truth about inflation, where our money comes from, and how the government manipulates it to keep us poor.

Most importantly, we teach kids actionable ways to live in a world full of misinformation and corruption without being bogged down or swept away in it. 

We teach them how to thrive in the world as it is, and how to use what they know to make the future better.

If last night’s debate proved anything, it’s that we need informed citizens who can see through political dishonesty. 

I want to help you raise kids who will be just that.

We want to help shape a generation that is better prepared than this one to understand and defend the truth, so that they’ll never be in a position to depend on corrupt politicians or biased moderators to tell them what to think.

From books, to curriculum, to parent guides and conversation starters, we’ve got all the tools you need to teach your kids the truth about the world and their place in it. 

I don’t know what next month’s election will bring, but I know that the work we do within the walls of our own homes matters more than anything that happens in Washington. 

Keep fighting the good fight! We’re here to help. 

— Connor