📊 Buckmaster Show Exposes Trump's Tariff Truth: "Biggest Tax Increase in History" Hits Working Families Hardest | Plus: Colorado River Crisis Deepens

Local solutions emerge as federal safety nets unravel under second Trump term

Apr 04, 2025

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🎙️ The Buckmaster Show talked about three big problems facing people in Tucson. 1️⃣ First, they discussed how property taxes 💰 work and ways to make sure people aren't paying too much. 2️⃣ Second, they showed how Republican presidents 🏛️ usually aren't as good for the economy 📉 as they claim to be, with most economic problems happening when they're in charge. 3️⃣ Finally, they explained that we're in a serious water emergency 💧 that's been going on for more than 20 years, making both water 💦 and electricity ⚡ harder to get. 👨‍🏫 People who work at the University of Arizona might lose their jobs because the government is cutting money 💸 for important research. 🤝 The show explains that while these problems are serious, there are things we can do together to make things better. 🌟

🗝️ Takeaways

🏠 Homeowners classified as "Class 4" instead of "Class 3" could be missing out on hundreds of dollars in education credits annually, with potential for refunds going back three years
📈 Since World War II, 80% of U.S. recessions have occurred under Republican administrations, contradicting claims of superior economic stewardship
💸 The Wall Street Journal described Trump's new tariffs as "the biggest tax increase in history," with costs falling hardest on lower-income consumers
🚱 The Colorado River system is experiencing the worst drought in 1,200-1,300 years, affecting both water supply and hydroelectric power generation
🔬 Federal research funding cuts to institutions like the University of Arizona will disproportionately impact support staff, creating ripple effects throughout Tucson's economy

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Tariffs, Taxes, and Troubled Waters: Buckmaster Show Exposes Economic Fallacies and Environmental Crises

In the shadow of a presidential administration determined to drag us back to the exploitative economics of the Gilded Age, the April 1, 2025 edition of the Buckmaster Show stands as a beacon of truth in increasingly murky waters. As the Trump administration's regressive policies continue to squeeze working families while corporations enjoy unprecedented latitude, Bill Buckmaster and his guests pierce through the propaganda to reveal the stark realities facing our community and environment.

Today's lineup featured conversations with Pima County Assessor Suzanne Droubie, financial analyst Shelly Fishman, and agricultural expert Dr. Jeff Silvertooth. Each brought critical insights on issues affecting our community's most vulnerable residents and the environmental challenges threatening our collective future.

Property Tax Relief: A Lifeline in Troubled Economic Waters

Against the backdrop of federal support programs facing the chopping block under Trump's second term, Pima County Assessor Suzanne Droubie joined Buckmaster to discuss vital property assessment information and tax relief programs that could save homeowners hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

"If you've been classified as a Class 4 incorrectly, we can correct that for the current year, and we can actually go back three years prior to that and make the correction," Druby explained, highlighting the difference between Class 3 properties (owner-occupied primary residences) and Class 4 properties (non-owner-occupied). "And possibly if it calculates out that you are owed a refund, then we get you a tax refund on those three prior years."

While conservative politicians claim to champion tax relief while gutting social programs, it's refreshing to see local officials actually working to ensure people aren't paying more than their fair share.

The conversation revealed how property assessments are determined, with Druby offering this rule of thumb: "The full cash value on the notice should be, when you open up that notice and you look at the full cash value, you should be able to say to yourself, 'I could sell it for a little bit more than that.'"

Particularly significant was Droubie's emphasis on state-level relief programs that remain available despite federal cutbacks, including the Senior Freeze Program for those over 65 and various options for widows, veterans, and disabled persons.

"I know there is a huge expense for everybody and for those on a budget, the fluctuations with property taxes can have a significant negative impact on their daily life," Droubie acknowledged. "So I want to make sure that I'm doing whatever I can down here at the office."

This is what government service should look like—not performative budget-slashing that harms the vulnerable while enriching donors, but practical assistance that helps people navigate complex systems and access the relief they're entitled to.

Economic Reality Check: Republican Myths Versus Democratic Performance

The conversation shifted to economic analysis when financial expert Shelley Fishman discussed a revealing opinion piece by Professor Michael Schaller that systematically dismantled the conservative fantasy of returning to the "Gilded Age" of 1870-1913 as some economic paradise.

"No respectable historian of the United States would recognize or endorse this fantasy," Fishman quoted from Schaller's piece, noting that the period was only "gilded" for powerful trusts and monopolies like Rockefeller's Standard Oil and Carnegie's steel empire. "What they were doing, of course, is child labor. There was no union representation. There was no ability to negotiate anything."

The right's historical revisionism would be merely annoying if it weren't being used to justify modern exploitation. They're painting a Norman Rockwell patina over what was essentially economic feudalism.

Fishman referenced a letter to the editor from Gail Kamaris, who "simply was documenting what Republicans versus Democrats do when it comes to the national debt. And she gets it absolutely right. National debt increases during Republican administrations and is more controlled during Democratic administrations."

Adding empirical weight to this analysis, Fishman noted: "Since World War Two, the Democrat administrations have outperformed the Republican administrations in terms of GDP growth, in terms of stock growth, etc. To the tune of, if we've had, you know, depending upon how you count, we'd be there at 13 or 14 recessions since the end of World War Two. And of those recessions, 11 of them have been during Republican administrations."

That's 80% of post-WWII recessions occurring under Republican leadership. So much for the party of fiscal responsibility and economic growth. But why let facts interfere with a convenient narrative?

The segment reached its most pressing point when discussing Trump's new tariffs, described by the Wall Street Journal as "the biggest tax increase in history." These tariffs function as regressive taxes, disproportionately harming lower-income consumers.

"The people who can least afford it are the people who are going to get the worst impact from these taxes that are attached, the price increases that are attached to these tariffs," Fishman explained. "We don't need to be doing this to the bottom 50% of earners. It makes utterly no sense."

Fishman didn't mince words about the political deception at play: "What's more tragic in my mind is these are the people to a very great extent who were convinced somehow that they could trust Trump on what he was going to do for the economy and for them in this economy."

To which Buckmaster suggested: "How about hoodwinked?"

"Hoodwinked is a good word," Fishman agreed.

The cruel irony is watching the very communities decimated by corporate outsourcing and union-busting embrace the politicians who championed those policies, all while blaming immigrants and regulations for their economic distress. It's a masterclass in misdirection that would make Houdini envious.

Crisis on the Colorado: Drought and Denial

In the final segment, Dr. Jeff Silvertooth addressed the ongoing water crisis affecting the Colorado River system, a situation made more precarious by climate change denial and insufficient conservation measures.

Currently under Tier 2 reductions, Arizona faces a cut of approximately 512,000 acre-feet in water allocation, with the potential for deeper cuts if reservoir levels continue to decline.

"Forty million people depend on that river—over 6 million acres of cropland, 30 American Indian tribes, etcetera, etcetera. You have a lot of dependence on this water," Silvertooth explained. "And the drought is the culprit."

This isn't just any drought, but what climatologists describe as the worst in 1,200-1,300 years—a sobering reality with implications not just for water supply but also for hydroelectric power generation.

"We're in a water drought. We're also in a power drought," Silvertooth warned. "Every inch that water drops, we lose hydroelectric generation power, both at Powell and at Lake Mead."

The conversation revealed the complex negotiations between states that share the Colorado River. Silvertooth noted that if the upper basin states (Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Utah) and lower basin states (Arizona, California, and Nevada) can't reach an agreement by year's end, federal intervention will become necessary.

While politicians play water rights poker, communities face existential threats. Indigenous peoples who have managed these watersheds sustainably for millennia watch as settler-colonial resource exploitation pushes our entire region toward ecological collapse. The irony would be delicious if it weren't so devastating.

The Rising Tide of Economic Inequality

Throughout the show, a common thread emerged: the disconnect between economic policies that benefit the wealthy few while leaving the majority to struggle with rising costs, environmental degradation, and diminishing support systems.

The discussion touched on federal research funding cuts and their cascading impact on institutions like the University of Arizona. Beyond the direct effect on researchers, Dr. Silvertooth highlighted how support staff—the backbone of these institutions—will suffer most severely from these cuts.

"It'll hurt the staff, the support staff that help support this enterprise. That's where a lot of that F&A money goes. It goes to support facilities and administration. It goes to support staff. There's a lot of staff right here in Tucson, Pima County," Silvertooth emphasized.

Buckmaster connected these cuts to Tucson's broader economic health: "We know the University of Arizona, Davis-Monthan and Raytheon, it's a three-legged stool, if you will, that supports this economy. You start cutting out up to $1 billion in research dollars that are coming into the University of Arizona. You don't think that's not going to trickle down when these researchers who work at the University of Arizona find that all of their funding is cut off?"

The same administration that claims to prioritize American jobs and economic security is undermining one of our community's largest employers and economic engines. But when have consistency or facts ever been requirements for right-wing economic policy?

These policy decisions create a domino effect that ripples through local economies, particularly in places like Tucson where institutions like the University of Arizona serve as economic pillars. The impact falls hardest on working families already struggling with rising costs for housing, healthcare, and now, thanks to tariffs, everyday consumer goods.

Water, Wealth, and Wisdom: Finding Hope Amid Challenges

Despite the troubling trends discussed today, hope remains in the form of local officials like Suzanne Droubie working to protect homeowners, researchers continuing their vital work despite funding challenges, and everyday citizens becoming more informed about the realities behind political rhetoric.

The path forward requires clear vision, community solidarity, and a willingness to challenge narratives that prioritize profit over people and planet. Together, we can build a more just and sustainable future that serves all residents of our desert home.

How to Get Involved

Contact your county assessor's office if you believe your property may be misclassified or to learn about tax relief programs you might qualify for.
Attend local water conservation meetings and public forums on Colorado River management to ensure community voices are heard in these critical discussions.
Support local educational and research institutions through advocacy, volunteering, and when possible, financial contributions to help offset federal funding cuts.
Stay informed by following reliable news sources that provide factual reporting on economic and environmental issues affecting our region.
Engage with local representatives at all levels of government to advocate for policies that protect vulnerable communities and promote sustainable resource management.

The challenges we face are significant, but they are not insurmountable. By working together with clear eyes about the realities before us, we can create the change our community needs.

What do you think about the disconnect between Republican economic promises and their actual outcomes for working families? How is your household preparing for the potential water and power challenges that may arise from the ongoing Colorado River crisis? Share your thoughts in the comments below.