Front-page story celebrates disparity

Re: “Budget busters! The top 13 sales this year” (Page A1, Aug. 12).

I was appalled to see your article in full color on the front page today. We are barely affording groceries and the article proudly shows houses sold for $55 million in our area.

Way to rub in the disparity between the “haves” and “have-nots” in this country. What would you suggest the rest of us do when every week prices increase in everything we do? Even The Dollar Store has increased their prices.

— Constance Self, Concord

Is Trump hiding evidence of guilt?

Re: “AG told Trump he was named” (Page A1, July 24),

A rhetorical question: Why would Donald Trump, who cheated on his wives, who said on the Hollywood Access tapes that he could grab women’s private parts, who was found liable for forcibly sexually touching E. Jean Carroll in a department store dressing room, who paid $150,000 to effectively kill a story about his affair with Karen McDougal, who was found guilty of falsifying internal business records to conceal a $130,000 hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, want the Epstein files kept from being released?

Hint: The Wall Street Journal on July 23, 2025, asserted that Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy told Donald Trump that his name appeared in the Epstein files multiple times.

If Trump is innocent, as he claims, release the files to prove his innocence. If he is guilty, then the files also should be released.

— Larry Bieber, Castro Valley

Trump’s sole motive is seizing and keeping power

Isn’t it interesting how the president and his followers who have for years made false claims about how elections are “rigged” and riddled with “voter fraud” (except of course the elections he won) are now leading a full scale drive to gerrymander congressional districts in multiple red states ahead of the 2026 elections, just when his poll numbers have tanked and so many of his supporters are turning against him because of his refusal to follow through on the promise to release all the Epstein files.

If nothing else, this effort exposes the whining about “rigged” elections as nothing more than a smokescreen for the naked attempt to retain control and power no matter what. Transparency, truth and fair elections mean nothing to the Donald Trump cult; the only thing that matters is seizing and holding on to power to drive their anti-democracy agenda and protect the rich and powerful.

— Jamie Harris, Lafayette

Trump’s actions demand constant opposition

Re: “Booker’s stunt proves party’s powerlessness” (Page A6, Aug. 12).

So David M. Drucker thinks Democrats should just shut up, roll over, and take it; just cede the fight to Donald Trump. What lousy advice.

Yes, we know we have no power until (or unless, since it may not happen) the 2026 election, but that does not mean we don’t make noise. It’s our duty as citizens to shout to the rooftops and resist this slide into authoritarian rule.

— George Mathews, Antioch