Every broken promise. Every contradicted vote. Every politician who said one thing and did another — on the record.
Drug prices
Drug pricing · Multiple politicians · Both parties
They said
"We will lower prescription drug prices. Americans should not pay ten times what Canadians pay for the same pill."
They did
Medicare was legally barred from negotiating drug prices for 20 years. Both parties maintained the ban. Pharma donated $612M across both parties in that period.
Wall street accountability
Banking regulation · Post-2008 crash
They said
"Wall Street greed caused this crisis. We will hold bankers accountable and make sure this never happens again."
They did
Zero senior bankers prosecuted. Bailouts totaled $700B+. Glass-Steagall was not reinstated. Banks got bigger. Bonuses returned within 18 months.
Endless wars
Military intervention · Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya
They said
"We will end these forever wars. Our troops deserve to come home. We cannot be the world's policeman."
They did
US troops remain in Syria, Iraq, and Somalia. Military budget hit $886B in 2024 — a record. Both parties voted yes. No war formally ended.
Border security
Immigration · Every election cycle
They said
"We will secure the border / fix our broken immigration system. This is a crisis that demands immediate action."
They did
Comprehensive reform bills collapsed in 2007, 2013, and 2024 — each time with bipartisan blame deflection. The crisis is more useful unsolved. Donations flow either way.
Congressional stock trading
STOCK Act reform · Insider trading
They said
"Members of Congress should not be able to trade stocks based on inside information. We will ban it."
They did
The STOCK Act passed in 2012 but with no real enforcement. The fine for a late filing is $200. Reform bills strengthening it died in committee in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Surveillance & privacy
NSA · FISA · Patriot Act
They said
"We will protect the privacy of every American. The government has no business spying on its own citizens without a warrant."
They did
The Patriot Act passed 98–1. FISA 702 reauthorized repeatedly. NSA mass surveillance programs exposed by Snowden continued under both Obama and Trump. Both parties voted yes every time.