Who's to Blame for High US Gas Prices?

Already-lofty U.S. gas prices hit a record high this week. Where should Americans place blame?

The average price of gas in the U.S. rose to $4.25/gallon Wednesday, according to AAA, after hitting an all-time high of $4.17 the day before. In response, governors from both major parties have called for gas taxes to be suspended. Meanwhile, the Biden administration banned imports of Russian oil, natural gas and coal in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden acknowledged that the move could raise costs for U.S. consumers and pledged to "minimize Putin’s price hike here at home." Rising costs have revived debates over clean energy and oil dependence, and sparked disagreements over what's causing higher prices and how to reduce them.

Right-rated voices often blame price spikes on Biden's purportedly restrictive energy policies and blind focus on clean energy, and often frame those positions as obstacles to lowering costs. Left-rated voices have been less emphatic in placing blame, and tend to highlight Russia's invasion as the key reason for currently high gas prices. Sources across the spectrum agree that high prices pose trouble for Biden and Democrats in the 2022 midterm elections, and many sources on all sides highlighted how consumers are being affected. Some coverage from left-rated sources focused on how high prices are impacting minorities and low-income communities. One writer for CNN (Left bias) called for more stimulus checks to alleviate heightened costs.