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Oil Prices Are Spiking — Here's What It Means for Your Gas Tank and Grocery Bill

  Published July 17, 2026 Crude oil is trading near one-month highs this week, and if you've filled up your tank recently, you've probably already felt it. The culprit: an escalating conflict in the Middle East that's disrupting one of the world's most important oil shipping routes — and it's starting to show up at Canadian pumps and, eventually, on grocery store shelves. What's happening with oil prices West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the North American benchmark, has been trading around the $79–$80 per barrel range this week — up roughly 5% over the past month. Brent crude, the global benchmark that matters more for what Canadians pay at the pump, has been hovering near $85 per barrel, also near a one-month high. The spike traces back to renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iran and has intensified strikes, while Iran has responded with attacks on U.S. bases and threats to disrupt regional energy shipments further. ...

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Trump and Republicans Set Ambitious 100-Day Agenda with Focus on Tax Cuts


In a bold move, President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican majority in Congress are gearing up for an ambitious 100-day agenda, with tax cuts taking center stage. The plan aims to renew approximately $4 trillion in expiring GOP tax cuts, a hallmark of Trump's first term. 

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise emphasized the urgency of being prepared from Day 1, as GOP lawmakers have been meeting privately with Trump to outline their strategy. The proposed policies will reignite debates on America's priorities, income inequality, and the size and scope of government, especially given the mounting federal deficits nearing $2 trillion annually.

The tax cuts, initially passed in 2017, have significantly benefited higher-income households, with the top 1% receiving substantial reductions. As Republicans prepare to extend and enhance these cuts, they also plan to lower the corporate tax rate further and eliminate taxes on tips and overtime pay.

This ambitious agenda will test whether Trump and his allies can deliver the outcomes voters expect, having granted them control of both Congress and the White House.


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