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Inflation rose to 3.5% in March, an unexpected increase that continued to crush Americans wallets and President Bidens approval rating.

Despite repeated promises that inflation was transitory, inflation has remained high throughout the presidents term, and hes backed off using the term Bidenomics as people have bristled at high costs , particularly in restaurants and grocery stores.

The Consumer Price Index which tracks the changes in the costs of everyday goods and services noted surging prices for everything from gasoline to housing to car insurance.

But an increase in food costs also was a major culprit, according to government data.

Its the latest uncomfortable month for President Biden, who on Wednesday accused big food manufacturers and supermarket chains for using high prices to pad their bottom lines.

Im calling on corporations including grocery retailers to use record profits to reduce prices, Biden said Wednesday.

But retailers also have been hit hard by higher costs: New minimum wage legislation, higher taxes and the increase in prices for everything from construction supplies to oil and gas caused by massive government spending over the past few years.

While Biden admitted that prices are still too high for groceries, he claimed that prices for key household items like milk and eggs are lower than a year ago.

Nevertheless, the price of meats, poultry, fish and eggs rose 1.3% in March driven by eggs whopping 4.6% increase last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

The price of a dozen grade-A eggs has surged a blistering 103.4% since January 2021 to $2.99, according to data from the US Inflation Calculator, which tracks changes in the price of basic food staples based on the monthly CPI.

Overall, the food at home index which tracks prices at supermarkets rose 1.2% over the past 12 months, with fruits and vegetables advancing 2% over the year.

Indeed, every major staple, including bananas, beef, bread, coffee and ice cream Bidens favorite campaign snack have shot up in price since he took office.

Coffee was also among the most hopped-up pantry items, rising nearly 30% since Biden began his term, to an average of $5.96 per pound.

Other staples that rose between 26% and 29% between January 2021 and March 2024: Chicken breast, which now averages $4.11 per pound; as well as ground beef and sirloin steak, which experienced a $1.16 and $2.39 price-per-pound increase in that period, respectively, per the US Inflation Calculator.

White bread was up nearly 50 cents, or 29%, to $2, and rice will run shoppers about $1.01 these days 28% more than in January 2021.

In addition, consumers looking to keep a sweet treat in their pantry can expect to shell out roughly 40% more, or about $5.15, for a one-pound package of chocolate chip cookies than they did three years ago.

The cost of a one-pound bag of flour has also surged more than 26% during Bidens term.

As inflation remains stubbornly high, its impact on food costs have been thrust to the center of political debates ahead of the 2024 presidential election in November, where Biden and Donald Trump are expected to go head-to-head.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. weighed in on X on Monday, accusing Biden of trying to gaslight us into believing that inflation is coming down, citing how the price of butter, eggs, milk, peanut butter and toilet paper have gone up since he took the oath of office three years ago.

President Biden should be telling Americans that their anger is right and justified, Kennedy said.

President Biden is trying to gaslight us into believing that inflation is coming down. I understand the pain Americans are suffering from high prices. Since he took the oath of office three years ago

Butter is up from $3.58 to $4.75
12 Eggs up from $2.36 to $3.54
Milk up from

Trumps official Super PAC launched a website last month dubbed Biden-Mart that lets users compare Trump-era grocery prices to current costs under Bidens administration.

There are over two dozen common food staples to choose from. The Post clicked off a grocery list of items to see the impact Bidenomics has had over the last three years.

A two-pound bag of apples, two pounds of ground beef, seven lemons, one gallon of milk and one pound of sugar and coffee each totaled $30.07 a whopping 57.11% increase from the $19.14 it cost during the Trump administration, per Biden-Mart, which used data from the United States Department of Agriculture data to compare the prices from January 2021 when Trump left office with January 2024.

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Environment

Trump nominates a Tesla critic to lead NHTSA

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Trump nominates a Tesla critic to lead NHTSA

President Trump has nominated Jonathan Morrison to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Morrison has previously criticized and tussled with Tesla in his previous role at NHTSA.

Morrison is now Trump’s nominee to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is in charge of regulating the auto industry in the US.

The attorney was the agency’s Chief Counsel during Trump’s first term, and he had a few disputes with Tesla during that time.

In September 2018, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its Tesla Model 3 crash test results, and the EV got five-star safety ratings in every category.

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Tesla interpreted the data from the test and claimed that Model 3 achieved “the lowest probability of injury of any vehicle ever tested by NHTSA“.

Morrison sent Tesla a cease-and-desist letter over the claim, arguing that it was misleading.

The lawyers also subpoenaed Tesla to get data about a specific crash in 2019.

Next week, Morrison is expected to have his confirmation hearing in the Senate and could take up his role shortly after.

The nomination is significant in the context of the current feud between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Trump.

Musk has been criticizing Trump and his allies over their recently passed budget and tax bill, which is expected to significantly increase the federal government’s debt and eliminate virtually all subsidies to electric vehicles and renewable energy, potentially harming Tesla.

Trump has warned Musk that he could go directly after his companies and NHTSA would be the top vehicle for that when it comes to Tesla.

The agency had already launched several investigations into Tesla over the years, with the largest one examining Tesla’s Full Self-Driving program and several fatal crashes related to the ADAS system.

Electrek’s Take

Most NHTSA probes into Tesla have resulted in slaps on the wrist at best, but this FSD probe involves several fatal crashes, and even though it started under the Biden administration, it could potentially ramp up under Trump, especially amid his feud with Musk.

On the one hand, it’s disheartening to see the US reach this point, where feuds between billionaires and elected officials are settled through regulatory agencies. Still, at the same time, Musk did buy the election for Trump, so he created this situation in the first place, and there are serious concerns about how safe FSD is.

At the very least, I would hope that NHTSA will start to force Tesla to release all its FSD crash and disengagement data.

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Environment

A 25 mph ambulance? The GEM microcar is now an emergency responder

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A 25 mph ambulance? The GEM microcar is now an emergency responder

You might remember the GEM as a quirky little electric microcar that’s been cruising through campuses, resorts, and planned communities for years. But now, it’s taking on a more serious job – saving lives. Waev Inc., the maker behind the long-running GEM electric vehicle line, has just unveiled the GEM Ambulance, a purpose-built, all-electric, street-legal low-speed vehicle (LSV) designed specifically for emergency medical services.

While it might not replace a full-size ambulance on high-speed highways, this new electric responder is tailor-made for the dense environments where conventional ambulances often struggle: college campuses, sporting events, entertainment venues, airports, and more. With a top speed of 25 mph, it’s built for maneuverability, safety, and zero-emission performance in pedestrian-heavy areas.

“The GEM Ambulance fills a critical gap in medical response – delivering the ideal balance of agility and safety EMS teams need in crowded settings,” said Byron Dudley, Vice President at Waev Inc.

The new GEM Ambulance is built on the same proven electric platform that has powered GEM vehicles for over 25 years. It’s a highly refined LSV that combines practical engineering with professional-grade EMS functionality. In partnership with emergency equipment supplier QTAC, Waev integrated a skid-mounted EMS system that includes secure patient transport, attendant seating, optional oxygen and IV mounts, and rugged PolyTough™ construction designed to handle demanding conditions.

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Unlike golf carts or UTV-based setups that have been DIYed into emergency vehicles, the GEM Ambulance offers a more stable, comfortable, and professional platform. The EMS skid is positioned between the wheels for better weight distribution, and the vehicle’s low deck height and rear step-up provide easy access for patients and personnel alike.

The GEM Ambulance doesn’t skimp on emergency essentials either. It’s equipped with a 360-degree red emergency lighting system, an SAE Class 1-compliant siren with multiple sound patterns, a public address system, turn signals, LED headlights and taillights, and even a pedestrian noise emitter for quiet zones. A backup camera and full 360° sightlines give drivers added confidence when navigating tight environments.

And since it’s 100% electric, there’s no tailpipe emissions to worry about when operating indoors or in crowded spaces. Maintenance is minimal thanks to GEM’s maintenance-free batteries, regenerative braking, and corrosion-resistant aluminum frame. There’s even a seven-year warranty on the lithium-ion battery option.

The biggest surprise might be the price. According to Waev, the GEM Ambulance can cost up to 80% less than a traditional ambulance and 50% less than electric trucks or UTV-based alternatives. Plus, with operating costs of just $0.03 per mile, it promises long-term savings with no fuel, no fluids, and no downtime from engine servicing.

With applications ranging from college campuses and amusement parks to military installations and warehouse sites, the GEM Ambulance could be a game-changer for localized EMS response. It’s available now through GEM’s nationwide dealer network and can also be purchased through government contracts like Sourcewell, Texas BuyBoard, and GSA procurement channels.

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Technology

Microsoft Outlook hit with hours-long outage

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Microsoft Outlook hit with hours-long outage

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Microsoft‘s Outlook email service malfunctioned for several hours Wednesday and Thursday, prompting some people to post on social media about the inability to reach their virtual mailboxes.

The issue began at 6:20 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, according to a dashboard the software company maintains. It affected Outlook.com as well as Outlook mobile apps and desktop programs.

At 12:21 ET the Microsoft 365 Status account posted that it was rolling out a fix.

“Our configuration changes have effectively resolved impact in targeted infrastructure. We’re now deploying the changes worldwide to resolve impact for all users,” Microsoft said in an X post on Thursday afternoon.

The company’s status page said “most impacted users will experience relief within the next two hours,” and that it was continuing to monitor the service.

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On social media, some people reported that Outlook was functioning properly after hours of users posting about problems.

Some posts included screenshots of Outlook that said “something went wrong.” 

With hundreds of millions of active users, Outlook is important, although Apple and Google‘s email clients are more popular, according to data from analytics company Litmus

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