That's how people defended decades of preventing Black children from excelling at – or even accessing – the quality education white kids got. And because that education was the surest way to get a leg up in the world, "separate but equal" became the go-to excuse for all structural racism.

$200 million.

No more than $300 million.

$400 million.

Not one penny.

$1 billion.

Each of these things we've been told is the total cost to the taxpayer for Donald Trump's illegal East Wing ballroom.

So which is it?

Eight years ago today, Trump decided that President Obama's Iran Deal just wasn't good enough for him, and he wanted a better deal. I don't have a problem with getting a better deal. But I do have a problem with getting ripped off. And boy, did Trump and every American who's now paying the price get ripped off.