A NYT article, Trump Moves to Crack Down on Drug Advertising, talks about djt talking about limiting drug ads on TV, as was the case in the 1990s. Chances of that happening are low, maybe ~2% in the next 18 months. It would be wonderful to not be carpet bombed by drug ads on broadcast TV, but there's just too damned much money in it for everyone involved. People involved in carpet bombing us with obnoxious drug ads will purchase enough $TRUMP meme coin, donate to his presidential library, give him a huge jet airplane, and/or otherwise bribe djt into dropping this idea. The idea is very likely DOA, i.e., dead on arrival.
The NYT included some comments by Dr. Brainworm (RFK Jr). “Pharmaceutical ads hooked this country on prescription drugs. We will shut down that pipeline of deception and require drug companies to disclose all critical safety facts in their advertising.” Interest. Brainworm called the TV ads deceptive.
Something about this smells fishy.
Last June, a post here focused on djt telling us he was gonna drop drug prices in the US to match the lowest price anywhere in the world. The prediction there was that affected drug companies and other special interests would quietly bribe their way out of the problem. Since it's been three months since djt's last blast of propaganda about drugs, I asked Comet (the agentic part of Pxy) for an update on how well djt's "effort" to drop US drug prices is proceeding. The answer is exactly as expected, it ain't gonna happen. Maybe the real "effort" here is to coerce money out of affected special interests like wealthy drug companies.
Q: This blog post from last June, https://dispol.blogspot.com/2025/06/thinking-about-how-politics-is-done.html, discussed Trump promising to drop drug prices in the US. Has that happened yet, or has the idea quietly died after sufficient bribery (free speech) of Trump got him to drop the idea? (error reduction instructions added here)A: Trump's Drug Price Promises: Status Assessment as of September 10, 2025Current Timeline and PromisesSources indicate that Trump signed an executive order on May 12, 2025, titled "Delivering Most-Favored-Nation Prescription Drug Pricing to American Patients". On July 30, 2025, he sent letters to 17 major pharmaceutical companies demanding they lower U.S. prices to match international rates, setting a September 29, 2025 deadline for "binding commitments".Industry responseIndustry-Wide Spending (Entire Pharmaceutical/Health Products Sector):
- Q1 2025: $121.4 million
First Half 2025 Total: $226.8 million. The pharmaceutical industry has significantly increased lobbying expenditures, spending a record $227 million in the first half of 2025, with the industry on pace to easily surpass its all-time high of $388 million for 2024.
- Q2 2025: $105.4 million
Implementation ChallengesLegal experts note significant enforcement limitations. The administration's demands amount to a request that drug companies act voluntarily because there is limited** clear legal authority to enforce price reductions. Trump's previous 2020 attempt at Most Favored Nation pricing was blocked by federal courts due to procedural failures.** I think limited legal authority means no legal authority.Corporate Influence Dynamics
Major pharmaceutical companies contributed substantially to Trump's inauguration, including Pfizer, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Gilead, and Bayer (each $1 million), with Eli Lilly contributing $500,000. PhRMA contributed $1 million despite later opposing Trump's drug pricing executive order. Industry access continues through Mar-a-Lago meetings.Recent Developments
As of September 9, 2025, Trump's most recent drug-related action focused on pharmaceutical advertising rather than pricing, signing a memorandum to crack down on direct-to-consumer drug advertisements. This represents a shift from core pricing issues to peripheral regulatory matters.Assessment of Promise Status
Promises Made: Trump has claimed drug price reductions of "50 to 80 or 90%" would occur "almost immediately" and has demanded companies provide "binding commitments" by September 29, 2025.
Current Reality: The September 29 deadline has not yet passed. Limited evidence suggests minimal company compliance beyond preliminary discussions. The administration has shifted focus to advertising restrictions rather than direct price controls.Q2: In view of all current evidence in the public record about Trump and MAGA politics, estimate how much money will need to flow from affected parties to Trump before he quietly drops the idea of decreasing drug prices.A2: .... long analysis ....
FINAL ASSESSMENTBased on available evidence, a coordinated pharmaceutical industry effort in the range of $100-300 million across multiple funding channels over 6-12 months would likely be sufficient to secure a quiet abandonment of Trump's drug pricing initiatives. However, this estimate carries substantial uncertainty due to the unpredictable nature of Trump's decision-making and the complex political dynamics surrounding healthcare policy.
Critical limitations: This analysis cannot account for external factors, public pressure, or Trump's personal motivations beyond documented financial patterns.Q3: So, given Q1 and Q2 spending of $226.8 million, the pharmaceutical industry may have already purchased relief from Trump's threat of drug price decreases?A3: .... moderate analysis ....ConclusionThe pharmaceutical industry's substantial lobbying investment appears to have successfully purchased policy moderation. While Trump maintains rhetorical pressure, the policy trajectory suggests meaningful drug price reductions are unlikely to materialize, consistent with his established pattern of accommodating major donors while preserving populist messaging. The $226.8 million may indeed represent a successful "insurance premium" against serious drug pricing reform.
That analysis makes sense. Shifting his rhetoric from drug prices to TV ads helps the public forget about djt's original drug price drop promise. That's a nice deflection tactic. Good 'ole dark free speech.
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