January 12, 2026
Media wrong again on economy as U.S. booms with 4.3% third quarter growth
Mark Minnella: ‘The media narrative is stagnation and failure, but the data tell a very different story, one of resilience and adaptability’
PHILADELPHIA — A recent Commerce Department report revealed that the U.S. economy increased at a 4.3% annualized pace for the third quarter — the best growth rate in two years. In spite of consumers’ unfavorable remarks on the Trump economy, this growth is strong and a clear reflection of robust consumer spending and investments in AI. The third quarter expansion “follows the 3.8% annualized pace in the second quarter, after the economy shrank by 0.6% in the first three months of the year,” as stated in an Axios article.
Mark Minnella, host of Financial Issues (FISM), noted that this economic growth is not accidental; it is a mark of resilience and adaptability.
“What’s striking about this report is not just the strength of the numbers, but how sharply they contrast with the relentlessly negative tone surrounding this administration,” Minnella said. “A 4.3% growth rate, back-to-back with strong prior quarters, doesn’t happen by accident, especially in the face of tariffs, a government shutdown and nonstop media hostility. Consumer spending remains robust, and AI-driven investment continues to add real, measurable momentum to the economy, even after an already strong surge earlier in the year. The media narrative suggests stagnation and failure, yet the underlying growth data tells a very different story, one of resilience and adaptability. You don’t have to agree with every policy choice to acknowledge that the economic outcomes have been far stronger than many commentators seem willing to admit.”
Financial Issues’ (FISM) unique programming helps Christians find freedom and purpose in financial stewardship, empowering them to make biblically faithful choices in a world filled with competing voices. By tuning in, viewers and listeners will discover how to navigate their financial journey with clarity, integrity and a Kingdom-minded perspective.
Mark Minnella is the host of Financial Issues, which is broadcast live Monday through Friday at 9 – 10 a.m. ET/8 – 9 a.m. CT, on more than 500 television and radio outlets nationwide, streaming on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and other major platforms, as well as online at FinancialIssues.org.
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To schedule interviews with Mark Minnella, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Richard Jefferson, rjefferson@hamiltonstrategies.com.
