Welcome to August! Here are the topics for today’s column:

• White House Ballroom
• Gallup Party Affiliation
• 107 Days
• One More Thing

WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM:

Did you know that the United States is over $37,000,000,000,000 in debt? That’s 37 trillion dollars. (Source)

With debt like that, you would think the federal government would cut its spending, but no.  

Yesterday we learned that the Trump Administration is spending $200 million on a new White House State Ballroom that they contend “will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of ornately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House.” (Source)

I recall when Republicans were once known for being fiscal conservatives. I don’t think they exist anymore. 

GALLUP PARTY AFFILIATION:

Gallup Polling reports that Americans’ party affiliation has flipped back toward the Democratic Party after the Republican Party held advantages for most of 2023 and 2024. However, these changes in party preference are occurring at a time when the Democratic Party’s image is at an all-time low and slightly worse than that of the Republican Party. Further, Americans are no more likely to believe Democrats are better than Republicans at managing the federal government or bringing about changes the country needs.

Gallup also found that the favorability rating in July 2025 for the Democratic Party is at 34%, while the Republican Party’s favorability was 38%. 

To summarize, hardly anyone likes either political party. 

107 DAYS:

In case you missed it, former Vice President Kamala Harris will release a book about her 2024 Presidential race. The name of the book is “107 Days,” and it is due to be released on September 23, 2025. 

Here is the teaser on the Amazon website:

For the first time, and with surprising and revealing insights, Kamala Harris tells the story of one of the wildest and most consequential presidential campaigns in American history.

Your Secret Service code name is Pioneer.

You are the first woman in history to be elected vice president of the United States.

On July 21, 2024, your running mate, Joe Biden, announces that he will not be seeking reelection.

The presidential election will occur on November 5, 2024.

You have 107 days.

Written with candor, a unique perspective, and the pace of a page-turning novel, 107 Days takes you inside the race for the presidency as no one has ever done before.

ONE MORE THING:

It’s no longer “Box Wine.” The classy term is “Cardboardeaux.”

## HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ##