in debt

Unemployed graduates push for tax write-offs on degrees
Harley Schwadron, CagleCartoons.com
Recent college graduates facing extended unemployment have begun inquiring whether the cost of their degrees can be treated as a tax-deductible loss. Accountants report fielding more such questions as hiring in some sectors remains slow. The inquiry reflects broader frustration with the return on investment for higher education when entry-level positions are scarce. The cartoon captures this practical, if unconventional, approach to offsetting student debt through the tax code. It underscores ongoing debates about the value of degrees and the limits of existing tax relief for education expenses.
Trump Attributes National Debt Weight to Public Perception
TRUMP DISCUSSES NATIONAL DEBT WITH RUBIO by Becs, politicalcartoons.com
President Trump discussed the national debt with Senator Marco Rubio in early September 2026. The conversation highlighted the $40 trillion figure and public confusion over its scale. The exchange occurs as the administration manages spending priorities and deficit growth. The piece portrays the debt as a personal load that Trump seeks to downplay by blaming external views rather than policy choices.
Sep
3
2026
Inflation Forces Families Into Summer Staycations
Steve Nease, Freelance
Rising inflation, gas prices, and household debt have made traditional summer vacations unaffordable for many families, leading to increased staycations as the new school year starts. The cartoon captures this cost-of-living squeeze through a classroom presentation on what students did not do over the break. It underscores how everyday expenses now dominate family decisions and limit leisure options.
National Debt Hits $40 Trillion, Burdening Future Generations
BABY BURIED IN NATIONAL DEBT TRUCK by Steve Sack, politicalcartoons.com
The national debt has climbed to $40 trillion amid persistent federal deficits and rising interest costs. This trajectory threatens long-term economic stability and shifts repayment burdens onto younger Americans. The cartoon argues that current fiscal policies treat future citizens as disposable, loading them into the refuse of unchecked borrowing.
Uncle Sam Flees $40 Trillion National Debt
UNCLE SAM FLEES FORTY TRILLION DEBT by Christopher Weyant, politicalcartoons.com
The US national debt has climbed to $40 trillion amid ongoing debates over spending and borrowing limits. Lawmakers continue to defer tough choices on entitlements and revenue. The cartoon argues that pretending the problem does not exist only delays an inevitable reckoning.
Trump and Bessent Clash in Sinking Treasury Boat Over National Debt
TRUMP BESSENT ROW TREASURY BOAT NATIONAL DEBT by Taylor Jones, politicalcartoons.com
President-elect Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent are reportedly at odds over how to address the national debt. The disagreement comes as Trump prepares to take office again in 2025 amid concerns about rising deficits and interest costs. The dispute highlights tensions within the incoming administration on fiscal priorities. The cartoon depicts the pair in a sinking Treasury boat surrounded by debt, underscoring the scale of the challenge. It suggests the conflict could undermine efforts to stabilize federal finances.
Aug
29
2026
Canada stands its ground
Patrick Chappatte, Le Temps, Switzerland
Trump Golden Age Rhetoric Meets Forty Trillion Dollar Debt
TRUMP GOLDEN AGE RHETORIC DEBT SPIRAL by Joe Heller, politicalcartoons.com
National debt has reached forty trillion dollars amid ongoing debate over fiscal policy. The administration promotes a golden age vision while critics highlight unsustainable borrowing. The piece argues that optimistic rhetoric masks a path leading directly into deeper financial trouble.
Aug
22
2026
GOP Figures Scale Debt Mountain Without Complaint
MOUNTAIN OF DEBT by John Darkow, politicalcartoons.com
Republicans in power have stopped raising alarms over the national debt, a reversal from their stance during Democratic administrations. The shift highlights how fiscal concerns often serve partisan purposes rather than consistent policy priorities. The piece critiques this selective approach to government spending and borrowing.
Trump Flags Economic War on Iran
TRUMP FLAGS ECONOMIC WAR ON IRAN by Paresh Nath, politicalcartoons.com
The image depicts Donald Trump standing on a rocky outcrop and waving a red flag reading Economic Warfare Against Iran. Below him a large dinosaur carries the label $40 Trillion U.S. National Debt on its side. The composition places the debt creature in motion near the rock formation. The scene responds to ongoing discussions of U.S. policy toward Iran and the size of federal obligations. The visual places the foreign policy action directly above the debt figure to link the two elements.
Trump Depicted as Fakir Carrying Massive National Debt Burden
Marian Kamensky, Austria
National debt has climbed toward 40 trillion dollars under the current administration. The figure of Donald Trump appears in the role of a fakir performing a bed-of-nails act while Uncle Sam sits nearby in evident distress. The image underscores concerns that fiscal policies have left the federal government in a precarious position with little relief in sight.
TV News Corrects National Debt to 40 Trillion with Extra Zero
Harley Schwadron, CagleCartoons.com
A television news report updates the national debt figure to 40 trillion dollars. The anchor emphasizes that the amount contains twelve zeros rather than eleven. The development underscores ongoing fiscal pressures on federal budgets and public attention to spending totals. The piece presents the correction as a straightforward broadcast detail delivered to a home audience.
Both Parties Cling to $40 Trillion Debt Pole as Uncle Sam Watches
Margolis/Cox, PoliticalCartoons.com
The national debt has reached $40 trillion, with both major parties continuing to support spending measures that add to the total. Lawmakers from each side have backed recent appropriations and tax policies that widen the gap without corresponding offsets. The situation matters because interest payments now consume a growing share of the federal budget, crowding out other priorities. The editorial position criticizes both Democrats and Republicans for riding the debt higher rather than addressing the underlying imbalance.
National debt under Trump depicted as massive pyramid stack of dollar bills
TRUMP 40 TRILLION DEBT PYRAMIDS by Monte Wolverton, politicalcartoons.com
The image presents a field of green pyramids constructed from dollar bills set against a brown and tan background. Large text at the top states the $40 trillion national debt figure under Trump and compares the pile size to 18 great pyramids. A speech bubble emerges from one pyramid in the foreground with a remark about a ballroom idea. The composition places the largest structures toward the front and smaller ones receding into the distance. The visual ties the debt total directly to the current administration period referenced in the text.
Trump Confronts $40 Trillion National Debt Burden on U.S. Map
TRUMP STRAINS UNDER $40 TRILLION DEBT by Bill Day, politicalcartoons.com
The cartoon shows Donald Trump positioned next to a red band labeled $40 trillion national debt stretched across a shaded map of the United States. The red band cuts through the map with motion lines suggesting strain. Text identifies the debt amount and the national debt label below it. The image responds to ongoing concerns about federal debt levels projected to reach that figure. It places the president in direct visual association with the fiscal challenge.
Free Daily Newsletter
Get our cartoons and comments in your inbox for free!
Latest Columns
Opinions & Commentary
There aren’t enough rich people to tax to fund what Democratic Socialists of America candidates are promising. The millionaire next door When... More
Candice Odgers gave both of her daughters smartphones for their eleventh birthdays and even let her youngest daughter use Snapchat. You might... More
A wedding is when two people celebrate their love by financially ambushing everyone they know. I have not attended many weddings. In... More
Why is four-year college tuition so high in America? William Bennett, President Reagan's secretary of education, offered his hypothesis in 1987. In... More
Following the 2024 election, many progressives thought they could work with the Trump administration on antitrust policy. Their optimism stemmed from the... More
I have officially become a senior engineer. No, I haven’t been promoted. Pffh. What made you think that? I have developed neck... More