Dear john, Many Americans are struggling with the rising costs of gas, groceries, and healthcare. According to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, more than 8 in 10 Americans say rising gas prices are putting a strain on their household budget, while 63% say the economy is not working well for them personally. At the same time, the Trump administration has spent millions repainting the historic Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool blue under a questionable, no-bid federal contract. The contract was awarded under an emergency exemption typically reserved for situations involving “serious injury” to the government. And now it's being reported that the cost of the project has increased to $13.1 million after President Trump originally claimed it would cost $1.8 million. The contractor reportedly had no previous federal contracts and does not appear to advertise expertise in swimming pool resurfacing, despite Trump saying he selected the company because it had worked on pools at his golf club. Experts have also warned that repainting the pool may not solve its long-term algae and filtration problems.