Minnesota
Good Question: How did the U.S. debt get so high?
MINNEAPOLIS — If you wince when look at your monthly credit card bill, you might not believe what the U.S. government has racked up.
The national debt now tops more than $34 trillion. That’s a new record difficult to comprehend — and there are no signs of slowing it down.
How did the debt get so high? And will it need to be paid off?
Well, that goal might be wishful thinking.
The debt is one of the rare times people have a chance to use the word “trillion” in a sentence without exaggerating some number.
It stands at $34,009,690,055,595 as of Jan. 9. Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, is worth more than $241 billion. You’d need at least 140 of him to equal the debt.
“The first thing is about one-fourth to one-third of it doesn’t count,” said Christopher Phelan, an economics professor at the University of Minnesota. “It’s debt that’s held by another part of the government. So, it would be like the wife owing the husband money. It doesn’t affect the household. But the rest of it is still a huge number.”
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How did the U.S. accrue such a huge debt? One of the main culprits is consistently overspending. When the federal government spends more than its budget, it creates a deficit. In the fiscal year of 2023, it spent about $381 billion more than it collected in revenues.
To pay that deficit, the government borrows money. That can happen by selling marketable securities like treasury bonds. The national debt is the accumulation of the borrowed money, plus interest.
“Right now the federal government is spending 1.5 times as much as its taking in. So, an analogy that I’d like to give is imagine that a couple is making $80,000 between the two of them and spending $120,000 a year,” said Phelan. We asked him if the U.S. is the equivalent of a person who only makes the minimum payments on a credit card. Phelan took it a step further saying, “The U.S. is like somebody who makes less than the minimum payment on their credit card.”
The country was literally built on debt. It was $75 million in the red after the Revolutionary War thanks to loans from investors and countries like France.
The Civil War led a to a huge spike, raising the debt from $65 million in 1860 to nearly $3 billion in 1865 when the war ended. Costly wars proved to be a theme in our nation’s history. The debt was at $49 billion right before the U.S. entered World War II. When the war ended, it was $260 billion. It began rising at a fast rate in the 1980’s and was accelerated through events like the Iraq Wars and the 2008 Great Recession. Most recently, the debt made another big jump thanks to the pandemic with the federal government spending significantly more than it took in to keep the country running.
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Who do we owe the money to? “Mostly ourselves,” said Phelan. “A lot of pension funds own government debt, money market funds own government debt and then people own those money market funds.” The U.S. also has debts to other countries.
Where does the money come from that would go towards paying off the debt? It ultimately comes down to the U.S. taxpayers. That means in order to pay it off, or at least make a larger dent in the debt, the federal government would have to raise taxes and cut spending. “The problem is way bigger than if we just cut foreign aid,” said Phelan.
With such a high debt, how does the country function? Phelan said it comes down to the debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio. That equation shows a country’s ability to pay down its debt. “This ratio is considered a better indicator of a country’s fiscal situation than just the national debt number because it shows the burden of debt relative to the country’s total economic output and therefore its ability to repay it,” according to the U.S. Treasury’s website.
The current ratio in the U.S. is about 123 percent as of Sept. 2023. Two decades earlier in 2003, it was down to 60 percet. According to CEIC, the highest the ratio ever reached in the U.S. was 130.6 percent in March 2021, roughly one year into the pandemic.
While the ratio remains high for the country, Phelan said other countries are worse off, yet continue to run. Japan has a debt to GDP ratio that’s well over 200 percent, but that doesn’t mean countries should comfortably operate at those levels for a long time. “There is a limit, and it’s determined by when potential bond buyers say ‘I don’t think I’m gonna get the money back.’ And they demand a huge interest rate for risk of not getting the money back,” said Phelan, adding how that concern hasn’t happened yet for the U.S.
CDC warns of rise in cyclosporiasis cases. Here’s what to know.
Cyclosporiasis cases are rising across the U.S. as officials warn about contaminated produce and symptoms.
After an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal disease, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is speaking up.
The Minnesota senator is urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reinstate funding and staffing for federal and state food safety programs to fight the current cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Cyclosporiasis is an illness caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water and can lead to severe diarrhea, dehydration, fatigue and other health issues. So far across the country, Klobuchar states, nearly 2,800 cases and 87 hospitalizations linked to this outbreak have been confirmed.
“I write to urge the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to restore funding and staffing cuts made by the administration to federal and state food safety programs,” wrote Klobuchar. “As a currently uncontrolled large foodborne outbreak across the country continues, cuts to these programs are impacting our nation’s ability to prevent, detect, and contain foodborne illnesses and protect public health.”
Klobuchar said last year the administration made reporting of foodborne illnesses caused by the parasite cyclospora optional when it cut the CDC FoodNet program’s tracking of 10 pathogens, refering to the administration’s layoffs of federal public health employees.
“More recently,” the senator wrote, “the administration terminated Congressionally-appropriated Public Health Infrastructure Grants and Preventive Services Block Grants, which pay for state health department staff, laboratory capacity, diagnostics, tracking, and surveillance.”
What is cyclosporiasis?
The outbreak of cyclospora is putting health officials on alert as cases of the foodborne illness continue to be investigated across the United States. The illness is caused by the microscopic parasite, which can contaminate fresh produce and cause days, or even weeks, of severe gastrointestinal illness.
Unlike many foodborne illnesses, cyclospora is most often linked to fresh fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw, including leafy greens, herbs and berries. Investigators are working to determine the exact source of the current outbreak while tracing where contaminated food may have been distributed.
The CDC states on its website that local, state and federal public health authorities are investigating several clusters of cases in more than one state.
Cyclosporiasis is an illness caused by a tiny, single-celled parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
It is a protozoan parasite that is so small, it can only be seen with a microscope. It can infect humans when they eat food or drink water that’s been contaminated with fecal matter.
How many cyclosporiasis cases in Minnesota?
Although several states have reported illnesses tied to the current outbreak, Minnesota is one of the states that was identified in 2019 and 2020 with an outbreak; however, there is not a significant number of outbreak-related cases as of now.
As of July 9, according to CDC data, Minnesota has recorded fewer than 10 cases. The largest outbreaks have been reported in states such as Michigan, New York, Texas, Louisiana and Connecticut.
The CDC website states as of July 13, 1,645 cases were reported in people who acquired cyclosporiasis in the U.S. There were 141 hospitalizations, with 34 states reporting. These people became sick after eating food in the U.S. and had not traveled outside the country within two weeks of becoming ill.
What foods can carry cyclosporiasis?
Fresh produce is the food most commonly linked to cyclosporiasis outbreaks. Foods associated with infections include bagged salad mixes, romaine lettuce, spinach, basil, cilantro, parsley, raspberries, blackberries, snow peas, sugar snap peas, and other fresh fruits and vegetables eaten raw. Contaminated water used to irrigate crops or wash produce is often the source of contamination, according to the FDA.
How to prepare food to avoid cyclosporiasis
The safest option is to cook leafy greens, cilantro, basil, green onions, snow peas and raspberries after carefully washing them under clean, running water. Heating food to 158 degrees or higher kills the parasite.
If you must eat raw, fresh produce, the Centers for Disease Control suggests:
- Washing hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing food.
- Avoiding prewashed bagged lettuce or salad mixes. Instead, buy a whole head of lettuce. Throw away the outer two or three layers of leaves and thoroughly wash the inner leaves under running water.
- Thoroughly washing herbs, such as cilantro and basil, under running water. Separate the leaves as you wash them.
- Trimming the root end and removing the outer layer of green onions, which also are known as scallions. Once that’s done, wash them thoroughly under running water.
- Considering using frozen raspberries, rather than fresh, to reduce risk. The fruit’s bumpy surface makes raspberries especially difficult to clean. The parasite can hide in its tiny crevices. Freezing may reduce the risk, but the health department warns it does not guarantee the fruit won’t be contaminated.
- Rubbing the surface of snow peas while washing them under running water.
- Washing all fresh produce under clean running water, even if you plan to peel it. Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush and cut away any damaged or bruised areas before preparing and eating.
- Refrigerating cut, peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible.
- Washing and sanitizing utensils and surfaces before and after handling food. Wash and sanitize display cases and refrigerators where fresh produce is stored along with cutting boards, surfaces and utensils used to prepare, serve or store fresh produce.
What caused previous cyclosporiasis outbreaks?
In the past, outbreaks in the United States and Canada have been tied to bagged salad mixes and kits, such as pre-cut lettuce blends with romaine, iceberg, red cabbage and carrots; fresh cilantro, basil, raspberries, snow peas and green onions.
Among them were outbreaks identified:
- In 1997, when more than 1,000 people in the U.S. and Canada were sickened by contaminated raspberries imported from Guatemala.
- In 2005, when people got sick after eating basil imported from Brazil, Peru, Mexico and Costa Rica.
- In 2018, when lettuce served at McDonald’s restaurants was the source of a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis infections.
- In 2019, when more than 2,400 people in 37 states and the District of Columbia became ill after eating imported basil from Mexico.
Klobuchar leads efforts on food safety
Klobuchar has led other efforts to improve food safety, particularly by reducing harmful heavy metals in baby food and children’s products. In 2024, Klobuchar introduced the Baby Food Safety Act of 2024 to limit the levels of harmful heavy metals allowed in commercial food for infants and toddlers. In 2009, Klobuchar led the bipartisan Food Safety Rapid Response Act to help agencies detect and investigate food safety outbreaks, which was signed into law as part of the Food Safety and Modernization Act of 2012. Her legislation also established eight food safety centers of excellence, including the Minnesota Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence.
The Portland Trail Blazers tamed the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday night, 111-84, in NBA Summer League action. Center Yang Hansen made a heroic return after missing the last game due to an illness, while two-way guard Chris Youngblood turned in a much needed all-around performance to pace Portland. With the Blazers 0-2 in summer league, the team came out with a sense of urgency to put a complete game together and grab their first win in Las Vegas.
After a slow start against Minnesota, Yang really took command in the second half, imposing his will on both ends of the floor. He finished the game with 18 points on 7-8 shooting, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 turnovers (3 in the first half). He still has a ways to go, but when he gets into a comfortable rhythm, good things happen. Youngblood poured in 20 points on an efficient 5-11 shooting, to go with 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Donovan Williams led Minnesota with 21 points. Center Rocco Zikarsky finished with 18 and 6 rebounds. G league point guard Zyon Pullin scored 16 and dished out 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. He was the only Minnesota starter with a positive plus/minus.
Yang got off to both a good and bad start, recording 2 points, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, a rebound, and an assist in the first 3 minutes of the game. That sent him to the bench early. His center counterpart for the T-Wolves, 7’3”, 20-year-old Australian Rocco Zikarsky came out on fire. He scored 10 points in the first quarter, including two shots behind the arc. Youngblood provided a much needed good shooting start, while newly signed former lottery pick point guard Kira Lewis Jr. came off the bench with instant offense – 5 points in 4 minutes. The Blazers ended the first quarter up 24-17.
Youngblood, one of the Blazers on a two-way contract, has a reputation as a sharpshooter. However, coming into tonight’s game he was 1/13 from three through the first two games. He put together another solid run in the second quarter to lead Portland with 17 points, while helping double their lead at the half, 58-44.
The Blazers continued to dominate the third quarter. Yang punished Minnesota when they went to a smaller lineup. When Yang gets comfortable in the flow of a game, his confidence level rises. You can see the wheels turning in real time when he makes plays. He tries to parlay that into as much production as possible. He even impressed with his ability to bring the ball across half court a few times. He feasted in the paint and on the boards, registering 10 points in the third quarter alone. Blazers guard Quincy Olivari heated up with 9 points in the quarter.
The fourth quarter started with the Yang Hansen Show. He made a couple of impressive passes and drove the lane for a rim-rocking dunk! He was gassed after stuffing the stat sheet in the second half. He was subbed out with 6 minutes left and began pounding the Gatorade on the bench. After a tough start, Yang regrouped to play a very disciplined game.
The Blazers (1-2) get a couple days off, then return to action on Thursday when they take on the Denver Nuggets at 7 p.m. PDT. That game will be available Prime Video, BlazerVision and KUNP.
(FOX 9) – Minnesota is joining a legal challenge targeting the largest media merger in history, arguing that it would ultimately be a bad deal for customers.
AG Ellison joins lawsuit to block Warner Bros.-Paramount merger
What we know:
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has joined a coalition of 11 other attorneys general, filing a lawsuit to stop the $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance Corporation.
The suit alleges the merger would violate antitrust laws by creating a media conglomerate that would control nearly one-third of all U.S.-based theatrical movies.
The combined company would control about 27% of the market for wide-release theatrical films and basic cable channels. Only three distributors would control 75% of wide-release films, and four — including Disney, Universal, and Sony — would control 86%, the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit also points out that Warner Bros. is currently the second largest and Paramount the third largest in licensing basic cable channels, and together they would control 27% of that market. The merger would combine two of Hollywood’s five major film distributors and two of the five major basic cable companies, eliminating competition and harming movie theaters, cable distributors and consumers.
What they’re saying:
“Minnesotans deserve a fair and competitive marketplace, not one where a handful of giant corporations control what we watch, what we pay, and what choices we have,” AG Ellison said in a statement. “This would be the largest merger in media and entertainment history. It will raise prices, limit innovation, and reduce the variety of voices in media and entertainment. I’m taking action because this goes too far in consolidating power with a few at the expense of the public.”
What’s next:
The coalition has asked Warner Bros. and Paramount not to close the merger until after the judicial process concludes. If the companies refuse, the attorneys general plan to file a temporary restraining order to halt the deal.
The Source: Information provided in a statement from the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.
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