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

A Sign of Things to Come Before the Next Election – Virginia

This appears to be a 10 to 1 redistricting effort by Dems over Repubs (Virginia) which makes it a bit unusual . . . my opinion. It appears to be a bit much. But then it may be needed and legal for it to be accomplished. Similar although not as severe may be occurring in […]

Maybe Lower Oil Costs?

Having greater oil reserves gives the UAE leverage to strike out on its own. The UAE nation has not been supplying more oil due to imposed restrictions by Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries who act as one exporting group. Or simply stating there is more capacity than demand. And OPEC wishes to keep oil […]

Updating the long leading indicators: money and credit, plus overall review

– by New Deal democrat In the past week, I have been updating my suite of long leading indicators. First I looked at “real” consumer-focused indicators. Then I looked at housing, an important interface between consumers and producers, as well as corporate profits. Next I updated interest rate indicators. I this final installment I will […]

More on Oil

Brief review on the Oil Situation created by Trump and the US. Another week of consequential developments, including a potential new chair at the Fed and more war delivering higher prices. “Who’d a Thunk It? We’re Bogged Down In a Middle-East War,” Jared Berstein substack It has long been clear to me that Trump views […]

Teaching Iran a Lesson

I subscribe to a Dean Baker site. Typically, he is on the economic side of information. This commentary has a little bit of both economics and politics. What to do with Iran when the president is Trump. The rest of the world teeters economically for every action Trump takes. “Trump’s Ignorance Could Kill Millions” Patreon […]

Europe, Ukraine, and Iran; and Trump’s impaired emotional/cognitive relationship to negative consequences

This is a speculative post.  I don’t have any expertise in foreign policy.  I just want to clarify my own thinking, and posting is a way to force myself to do this.  So caveat lector, and let’s see what you all have to add. European leaders seem increasingly willing to criticize Trump.  Here is Bloomberg: […]

Where Is the Leadership?

– by J.P. McJefferson J.P. McJefferson Thoughts Americans are frustrated—and increasingly, they are unified in that frustration. Congress’s approval ratings have been mostly underwater since 1974, averaging 28% approval and 65% disapproval. That’s 52 years, five decades of massive disapproval! They look at Congress and see dysfunction. They look at the executive branch and see […]

SCOTUS Rejected Tariffs on U.S. Products and the US has to Refund Them

Additional nontechnical information on tariffs in the United States EconoFact: Tariff Payback Tariff Payback This week, the Trump administration began accepting requests for refunds of more than $166 billion in tariff payments following the Supreme Court’s February ruling: “the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.” Who Benefits: But while the refunds […]

Killing Last Year’s Defense Budget with Only Months Left

Hegseth’s Department of Defense budget increases by $440.9 billion in planned expenditures. More likely than not, more deficit spending on something which will be obsolete in the near future as technology will outrun that version of Defense technology. We shall see, The reasoning for this budget? “For many years, defense spending has prioritized maintenance of […]