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

Senator Collins Writes a Letter

Both Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Democratic Sen. Patty Murray (WA) wrote a letter protesting a key decision made by Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought about the continuing resolution passed to avert a government shutdown on March 14. The issue? The partial distribution of emergency funding as determined by Trump after it […]

Who’s That Knocking at My Door?

Well it is not the Wings. A failed attempt by the Trump’s administration to get a Greenland resident to host a visit by J. D. The real reason Trump’s Vance visit to Greenland did not occur. No resident of Greenland would host the visit. I think the ship was already sailing when they were going […]

Pete Hegseth: DUI DEI hire

Pete Hegseth was a DEI hire. GOP affirmative action to insure that incompetent alcoholics aren’t discriminated against. Here’s Mike Brock (paywalled, so no link) on the colossal blunder that is Pete Hegseth: “The core argument against DEI initiatives has always been straightforward: institutions should hire based on merit alone, without regard for demographic considerations. That […]

Democrats Need a Change

Lauren Egan writes . . . How Democrats faced a Joe Biden litmus test. But now could they also face a Chuck Schumer litmus test? In an interview with Politico . . . Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (who is widely expected to announce a bid next week to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Gary Peters) said the Democratic party […]

Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers’ Research Again

 More of a detailed explanation on the “Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers’ Research” now before SCOTUS. It appears two justices could join the three justices who are in the minority much of the time. The topic before the court is “nondelegation.” and the limitational of authority by Congress to delegate power to federal agencies. “Kavanaugh […]

What Happens to the U.S. when Trump Ignores the Court

“Donald Trump Ignoring Court Order Is ‘Doomsday Scenario,’” (Newsweek) SUMMARY: President Donald Trump’s deportation of Venezuelan migrants may have violated a direct court order, leading to what the FBI’s former general counsel, Andrew Weissmann, has called a potential “doomsday scenario.” Speaking on MSNBC, Weissman said: “The doomsday scenario for this country is the idea that you […]

Speaking Out on Columbia University

Contributor: Capitulation to Trump spells inordinate danger, Los Angeles Times Guest Writer at LA Times Erwin Chemerinsky, an acquaintance of mine too. We all learned long ago, perhaps on the playground, that giving in to a bully only makes things worse. That is why it is shocking to see capitulation on the part of those […]

The latest Republican assault on higher education

Earlier, it was a dramatic cut in indirect costs on all federal grants and outright cancellation of some grants. Now, congressional Republicans are mulling a steep tax on university endowments. “Republicans are considering increases to the university endowment tax to help reduce the national deficit and as a potential lever to force universities to comply […]

Tariff is a beautiful word

Trump says “tariff” is a beautiful word. Maybe for him, but not for American companies and consumers. “Walmart thought it could use its immense power as America’s biggest retailer to make Chinese suppliers eat the cost of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. But Walmart got a response it’s not accustomed to hearing: No. “Trump has slapped […]

Exporting our talent

Fascist Europe experienced a brain drain in the run-up to WWII. Among the European refugees who worked on the Manhattan project were Hans Bethe, Rose Bethe, Felix Bloch, S.H. Bohine, Niels Bohr, Hans Courant, Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi, Leo Szilard and Edward Teller. Prizing ideology over intellect ended up being a loss for fascism and […]