Democrats seize on rising gas prices
Gas prices are climbing rapidly after the Iran conflict rattled global oil markets, prompting Democrats to sharpen their affordability message and urge Trump to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Today in Congress
Gas prices are quickly emerging as House Democrats’ central economic message as lawmakers fan out across the country during recess this week, with leadership urging members to keep their focus on affordability—particularly the rising cost of fuel following President Donald Trump’s military conflict with Iran.
Leadership asked members to emphasize the issue while they are back in their districts, as party leaders anticipate that the spike in gasoline prices could soon dominate the economic conversation if the increases continue.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is already pressing the Trump administration to intervene. The New York Democrat on Sunday called for the White House to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, arguing the emergency stockpile exists precisely for moments when geopolitical crises threaten to drive up energy costs.
“The Strategic Petroleum Reserve exists for moments exactly like this,” Schumer said, warning that rising oil prices can ripple through the economy and increase the cost of groceries, flights and other everyday expenses. He is likely to reiterate this demand during floor remarks this afternoon.
The Trump administration has so far resisted that step. Energy Secretary Chris Wright suggested the reserve is not yet necessary and said the administration is monitoring market conditions.
Trump himself has dismissed concerns about the short-term price spike. In a post on Truth Social, the president argued higher oil prices are “a very small price to pay” for what he described as eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat and predicted prices would fall rapidly once the conflict ends.
But energy markets are already showing signs of strain.
The national average price of gasoline has jumped sharply since the conflict began on Feb. 28, climbing more than 40 cents per gallon to roughly $3.41, according to data cited by Schumer’s office. The surge reflects turmoil in global oil markets after tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint carrying roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply—slowed amid the escalating conflict.
Data from GasBuddy shows the speed of the increase is historically significant. The national average price of gasoline rose 52 cents over the past week, the fifth-largest weekly jump in the company’s data since 2000. West Texas Intermediate crude, a benchmark in oil pricing, has climbed to $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022.
Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, now estimates there is an 80 percent chance the national average price of gasoline reaches $4 per gallon within the next month. Diesel prices—which feed into shipping, food and airline costs—have an estimated 85 percent chance of climbing to $5 per gallon over the same period.
Democrats are betting that as Americans start the workweek and notice higher pump prices, gas costs could quickly become the most tangible domestic impact of the conflict, as they make the case heading into November that Trump’s military adventurism is coming at the expense of working Americans’ cost of living.
Happenings
All times Eastern.
The House is in recess and will meet for a brief non-voting session at 1 p.m.
The Senate is in at 3 p.m. and will vote at 5:30 p.m. to end debate on the nomination of Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd to be General in the Army.
In the Know
— A U.S. service member has died from injuries sustained during Iran’s initial wave of attacks across the Middle East, U.S. Central Command announced, bringing the death toll to seven American troops since the start of Operation Epic Fury. The service member was wounded during a March 1 attack on U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia, and the Pentagon said the identity will be released after next-of-kin notification as major combat operations continue.
— Senate Democrats led by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Leader Schumer are accusing President Trump of undermining the Federal Election Commission by nominating only Republican commissioners while failing to advance a Democratic pick for the bipartisan regulator. In a letter to the White House, the lawmakers warned the move threatens the FEC’s independence as it operates without a quorum ahead of the 2026 midterms and considers matters involving Trump and his associates.
— President Trump said Friday he will issue an executive order within a week aimed at reshaping college athletics and addressing the fast-growing market for athletes’ name, image and likeness deals. Speaking at a White House roundtable with sports leaders and lawmakers, Trump argued that the current NIL system is destabilizing college sports and signaled that the order could attempt to roll back elements of the post-2021 compensation model, even as he acknowledged it would likely face legal challenges.
Read All About It
“How each Gulf country is intercepting Iranian missiles and drones” by Dana Alomar: “As missiles and drones cross the region’s skies, the Gulf’s layered air-defense networks—from THAAD to Patriot batteries—are being tested in real time.”
“What watching a furious Hillary Clinton showed me” by Jessica Grose: “Her exasperation during her Epstein-related deposition channeled the national mood for some of us.”
“Women wanted: Kalshi pushes to expand far beyond sports bets” by Hannah Erin Langworthy and Oyin Adedoyin: “Prediction-market platform is pushing to win over more women and reach a broader swath of Americans.”