Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

September 21, 2022, Letters from an American

Summary: More on the Ukraine war, Russia calling up soldiers, Putin’s referendum, and a threat of nuclear consequences if the referendum is interfered with by something, someone, and his imagination. President Biden answers Putin’s threats. New York AG Letitia James filed a $250 million civil lawsuit against Donald Trump, the Trump Organization, and the family. […]

Review of “Demagogue”

Review of “Demagogue” “Demagogue: The life and long shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy” by Larry Tye is a particularly timely read as the nation continues in the grip of another political bully, Donald Trump. The parallels in their methods are striking and the degree to which McCarthy held the nation in thrall during the 1950s […]

What News was in My In-Box

Healthcare and Politics are the heavy hitters tonight. I always feel like I missed something. Feel free to add articles to this in comments. I have a post to complete on the costs and prices on Pharma. You know there is a difference. Politicians usually talk about one or the other. A while back Germany […]

On September 17, 1787, they did

“September 17, 2022,” Letters from an American, Heather Cox Richardson, (substack.com) In 1761, 55-year-old Benjamin Franklin attended the coronation of King George III and later wrote that he expected the young monarch’s reign would “be happy and truly glorious.” Then, in 1776, he helped to draft and then signed the Declaration of Independence. An 81-year-old […]

Reign of Queen Elizabeth II Has Ended

Another moment in History. “Remembering Queen Elizabeth II, Who Died at 96″ | The New Yorker, Rebecca Mead. Informational . . . Queen Elizabeth II, died on Thursday at Balmoral Castle, in Scotland, at the age of ninety-six. She became monarch in the early hours of February 6, 1952. Famously, she remained unaware of her […]

MAGA Republicans threatening “our personal rights and economic security”

“August 27, 2022,” Heather Cox Richardson, (substack.com) In a speech Thursday night, President Joe Biden called out today’s MAGA Republicans for threatening “our personal rights and economic security…. They’re a threat to our very democracy.” When he referred to them as “semi-fascists,” he drew headlines, some of them disapproving. A spokesperson for the Republican National […]

$1.6 billion to Right-Wing Org. – Marble Freedom Trust

Ninety year-old electronics company executive Barre Seid donates his funds to a new right-wing organization. Marble Freedom Trust, is controlled by Leonard A. Leo, the co-chair of the Federalist Society, who has been instrumental in the right-wing takeover of the Supreme Court. Leo has also been prominent in challenges to abortion rights, voting rights, climate […]

Sources of Interest

Agricultural news is slim, few and far between and usually relegated to only a few places. Mainstream media doesn’t have an audience for hard ag journalism, and ag journalism mostly preaches to the choir. Two great publications that I typically get information from are Successful Farming and AgWeb –. Both have varying degrees of in-depth […]