Nanny Biden’s intervention on alcohol reminds us why we’re better off with Trump
President Joe Biden is just weeks away from leaving office, but he’s been doing his best to remind the country why he can’t leave the White House soon.
Throughout his presidency, Biden and his administration have relied on government regulations to restrict businesses and limit individual freedoms.
Sure, he can claim he has our best interests at heart, but as is the case with most government intrusions, it ultimately does more harm than good.
Here are two recent examples:
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently released a new report on the link between alcohol consumption and cancer. Not only does he want the public to know this, he also wants to make it mandatory for alcohol packaging to carry warnings about cancer risks, just like on cigarettes.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued new recommendations on alcohol and cancer risk on January 3, 2025, outlining a direct link between the two.
Do we really need this kind of government guidance to let us know that drinking alcohol can be harmful? I don’t know anyone who would mistake beer or bourbon for health drinks (although other studies suggest that red wine has some health benefits).
Tobacco and obesity pose greater risks than alcohol as preventable causes of cancer. So where should the warning end? If overconsumption can cause cancer, perhaps all food—or anything containing calories—should have the same warning label.
Viewpoint: Musk was right about the visa fight. Trump can secure the border and support legal immigration.
Biden fines JetBlue over flight delays. How does this help?
The Transportation Department is considering requiring airlines to provide cash compensation to passengers whose flights are canceled or severely delayed.
Biden also continues to carp about the airline industry. He and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg issued a series of additional rules for airlines, forcing them to compensate passengers for the inconvenience and limiting their ability to charge more for certain services.
Clearly looking to make a splash, Biden’s administration on Friday fined JetBlue Airways $2 million for “prolonged flight delays.” According to the Department of Transportation, this is the first penalty of its kind.
“Today’s action puts the entire airline industry on notice and we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality,” Buttigieg said in a statement.
Is this really the federal government’s job?
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All these fines and regulations will make flying more expensive for consumers, and they’re unlikely to do anything to improve service.
JetBlue countered that it was the government’s responsibility to improve air traffic control staffing and update its systems — something other major airlines have also called for.
Biden’s legacy of repressive government
President Joe Biden speaks during a Presidential Citizens Medal ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 2, 2025.
These are just two examples of Biden’s latest moves as nanny-in-chief. Four years later, Biden leaves behind a legacy of executive overreach that is often dismissed in court (thankfully).
From dramatically raising the salary threshold for overtime pay, to banning gas stoves, to telling us what types of cars we can drive, the Biden administration is trying to insert itself into the private market in intrusive ways.
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The most egregious example of Biden’s interference, however, is his insistence on keeping the country in a “national emergency” for far longer than necessary.
Former President (now President-elect) Donald Trump first declared a state of emergency in 2020 in response to COVID-19. He did not do so until April 2023.
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During this time, Biden used a national emergency as an excuse to try to “forgive” $400 billion in student loan debt—something the Supreme Court rightly found unconstitutional.
The high court also ended his administration’s eviction ban and vaccine authorization for private companies.
I could go on, but I’m sure you get the idea.
Trump has promised to roll back many of the regulations Biden mistakenly implemented. This change isn’t coming anytime soon.
Ingrid Jacques is a columnist for USA Today. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or X (formerly Twitter): @Ingrid Jacques
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This article originally appeared in USA Today: From airlines to alcohol, Biden’s interventions are outdated | Opinion
