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The proposed Trump Dividend raises questions about congressional spending authority

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• President Trump says every adult U.S. citizen would receive a $5,000 Trump Dividend if Republicans win control of Congress in the November midterm elections.

• The president could not simply order the Treasury to send out the checks; Congress would have to authorize and fund the payments.

• Federal law prohibits paying people in exchange for their votes, but legal experts say Trump's proposal appears different because the payment would not depend on how an individual voted.

Addressing the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas Wednesday evening, President Trump made a stunning announcement: If Republicans win control of Congress in November, every adult American citizen would receive $5,000.

If the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000, Trump said. He also suggested the proposal should win the midterms.

However, the promise immediately raises an obvious question: Can a president legally promise voters thousands of dollars if his party wins an election? The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no.

Congress controls the money

The biggest legal obstacle is not necessarily election law. It's the Constitution.

The Constitution's Appropriations Clause gives Congress control over federal spending. Money generally cannot be withdrawn from the Treasury unless Congress has authorized the expenditure.

That means Trump could not simply direct the Treasury Department to send $5,000 checks to every adult American. Congress would have to enact legislation authorizing and funding the payments.

Even with Republican majorities in both chambers, passage would not be automatic. Lawmakers would have to agree on the eligibility rules, funding and other details of the program.

The price tag would also be substantial. With roughly 240 million adults in the United States, distributing $5,000 to each would cost about $1.2 trillion, which would be added to the $40 trillion national debt. Trump has not yet presented a detailed funding plan for the proposal.

Is it buying votes?

A second question involves federal election law.

Federal law, 18 U.S.C. 597, makes it a crime to offer or make an expenditure to someone in exchange for voting, withholding a vote or voting for or against a particular candidate.

On its face, however, Trump's proposal is different from the traditional definition of vote buying.

Trump isn't offering an individual $5,000 on the condition that the person votes Republican.

Under the proposal as described, eligible Americans would apparently receive the payment regardless of whether they voted Republican, Democratic, for another party or didn't vote at all.

Under current law, the proposal appears to be a campaign promise rather than an illegal payment in exchange for an individual's vote.

Politicians routinely campaign on promises that could financially benefit voters tax cuts, tax credits, increased Social Security benefits, student-loan relief and government subsidies, for example.

The difference here is how explicitly Trump has connected the proposed benefit to his party winning the election.

An unusual legal question

That connection could invite additional scrutiny. Trump isn't merely advocating a policy and asking voters to support candidates who favor it. He has directly said Americans would receive $5,000 if Republicans win Congress.

However, the federal vote-buying statute focuses on providing something of value in exchange for an individual's vote. A government benefit available to people regardless of how they personally voted is a significantly different arrangement.

Ultimately, the more immediate barrier to Americans receiving a $5,000 check may be Congress rather than election law.

The problem is not under the hood but in the dashboard

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Infotainment systems account for 25% of all problems reported by new-vehicle owners, according to a new J.D. Power study.

• Multimedia was the only major vehicle category in which quality worsened in 2026, as software, connectivity and increasingly complex systems create problems for drivers.

• There is some good news: Navigation systems improved significantly, with customer satisfaction rising 17 points from last year.

Cars are getting better in many ways, but the increasingly sophisticated technology packed into dashboards continues to frustrate drivers.

J.D. Power's 2026 U.S. Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study found that infotainment remains the most problematic major category in new vehicles and was the only category to get worse this year.

That's significant because automakers have increasingly moved basic vehicle functions onto touchscreens while adding smartphone integration, navigation, voice controls and connected services.

J.D. Power found 42.4 multimedia problems for every 100 vehicles, essentially unchanged from last year. But because overall vehicle quality improved, multimedia now accounts for 25% of all reported vehicle problems.

Even more striking, the five most frequently reported problems across the industry are all related to infotainment.

Software replaces hardware as the problem

The findings suggest that the nature of vehicle quality problems is changing.

As vehicles become more dependent on computers, software and connectivity, problems are increasingly associated with system complexity and software performance rather than a broken physical component.

The industry continues to make progress improving overall vehicle quality, but multimedia remains a persistent challenge, said Lisa Boor, director of customer success, OEM solutions at J.D. Power.

Boor said automakers that simplify their systems while making them more reliable are likely to achieve better quality and customer-satisfaction results.

For consumers shopping for a new vehicle, that suggests the test drive should include more than checking acceleration, comfort and handling. Buyers may also want to spend several minutes experimenting with the touchscreen and other technology.

Try connecting your phone, changing audio sources, adjusting commonly used vehicle settings and entering a destination into the navigation system. A system that seems unnecessarily complicated during a test drive may not become less frustrating after the vehicle is in your driveway.

Navigation is getting better

There was some encouraging news in the study. Navigation problems declined, particularly complaints involving usability and accuracy. As a result, overall satisfaction with vehicle navigation jumped 17 points to 933 on J.D. Power's 1,000-point scale.

Customer satisfaction also improved in areas involving multimedia and speaker problems.

The improvement suggests automakers can solve some technology complaints even as vehicles become more software-dependent.

A big survey of new-car owners

The results are based on responses from 78,514 people who purchased or leased a new 2026 model-year vehicle. Owners were surveyed after their first 90 days with the vehicle.

The study was conducted from June 2025 through May 2026 and draws on data used in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study and Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study.

The larger message for car buyers is that technology deserves careful consideration when choosing a vehicle. Engines, transmissions and other traditional components may be becoming more reliable, but a growing portion of the ownership experience now takes place through a screen.

And when that screen doesn't work the way drivers expect, it can turn an otherwise well-built new car into a daily source of frustration.

The recalled supplements were sold directly to consumers and through Amazon and Chewy

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Fi is recalling two dietary supplements for dogs because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

• The affected products include Fi Calming Supplement for Dogs and Fi 8-in-1 Formula Supplement for Dogs, both sold in 180-gram containers.

• The supplements were sold directly to consumers and through Amazon and Chewy; consumers should stop using affected lots and throw them away.

Dog owners are being urged to check their pet supplements after Fi announced a recall of two products because of possible Salmonella contamination.

The recall involves Fi Calming Supplement for Dogs and Fi 8-in-1 Formula Supplement for Dogs. According to an announcement posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the potential contamination is linked to an ingredient supplied to Fi's manufacturer. Production has been suspended while the manufacturer investigates.

The products were distributed directly to consumers and were also available through Amazon and Chewy.com.

Risk isn't limited to dogs

Salmonella contamination in pet products can pose a health threat to both animals and people.

Dogs infected with Salmonella may become lethargic and develop diarrhea, including bloody diarrhea, fever or vomiting. Some animals may experience decreased appetite and abdominal pain.

Even dogs that appear healthy can carry the bacteria and potentially spread it to people or other animals. Owners whose dogs consumed one of the recalled supplements and are showing symptoms should contact a veterinarian.

People can become infected by handling contaminated supplements, touching surfaces exposed to the products or coming into contact with waste from an infected animal.

Symptoms in people may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. In rare cases, Salmonella infections can lead to more serious complications.

What consumers should do

Consumers should check the lot number on any Fi Calming or Fi 8-in-1 Formula supplements they have at home.

If the product is included in the recall, Fi says owners should stop using it, tightly seal the container and dispose of it in the trash. Consumers should also wash their hands thoroughly after handling potentially contaminated products or cleaning up after their pets.

Consumers with questions can contact Fi at 1-888-434-3647, seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, or email support@tryfi.com.

De Todito snack products were distributed in New Jersey and Utah

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• El Eden Import Distributor Corp. is recalling about 264 pounds of snack products containing pork cracklings imported from Colombia.

• USDA says Colombia is not eligible to export meat products to the United States, and the recalled products do not have required import marks.

• No illnesses or injuries have been reported, but consumers should not eat the products and should throw them away or return them to the store.

A New York importer is recalling hundreds of pounds of popular Colombian snack products because they contain pork that was imported from a country that is not currently eligible to ship meat products to the United States.

El Eden Import Distributor Corp., based in Long Island City, N.Y., is recalling approximately 264 pounds of potato chip products containing chicharrn, or pork cracklings, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Sept. 9.

The products were imported on July 28, 2026, from Colombia. USDA says Colombia is not eligible to export meat or poultry products to the United States.

Products being recalled

The recall covers 45-gram foil bags of two De Todito varieties:

• De Todito NATURAL mixed chips containing "CHICHARRN AMERICANO JACKS," "Margarita" and "NATU CHIPS."

• De Todito BBQ mixed chips containing "CHICHARRN AMERICANO JACKS," "Margarita" and "NatuChips."

Unlike many meat recalls, consumers won't find a USDA establishment or import inspection mark to help identify the affected packages. FSIS says the recalled products do not bear any import marks on their labels.

The products were sent to a distributor in New Jersey and to retail locations in New Jersey and Utah.

Consumer complaint led to discovery

According to FSIS, the problem surfaced after the agency received a consumer complaint involving De Todito snack products containing dried plantains, potato chips and chicharrn imported from Colombia.

The issue isn't that USDA has identified contamination with a pathogen such as Salmonella or Listeria. Rather, the pork entered from a country that is not eligible to export meat products to the U.S., meaning the products did not enter through the required federal import inspection system.

There have been no confirmed reports of illness or injury associated with the recalled products.

What to do

FSIS is concerned that some of the snacks may still be sitting in consumers' pantries. Anyone who has one of the recalled products should not eat it. USDA recommends throwing it away or returning it to the place of purchase.

Consumers who are concerned about an illness or injury after eating the product should contact a healthcare provider.

Questions about meat and poultry recalls can also be directed to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854.