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

ISM manufacturing confirms regional Feds’ reports: prices up, production improves slightly, employment contracting

 – by New Deal democrat The ISM manufacturing and services reports assume heightened importance this month in view of the continuing federal government shutdown. These two, along with the regional Feds’ manufacturing and services reports, are our best sketch of the economy until the more thorough federal reports resume (hopefully?) We already have the regional Feds’ […]

Don’t tread on me, tread on them

Ladies and gentlemen, your GOP nanny state: “House Republicans are exploring ways to prevent Zohran Mamdani from ever being sworn in as mayor even if he prevails in Tuesday’s election by using the Constitution’s “insurrection clause,” The Post has learned. “The New York Young Republican Club is pushing to prevent the NYC mayoral frontrunner from […]

Delays in ACA Healthcare Insurance Pricing

I have been looking around for more information, accurate information on the forthcoming increases in ACA healthcare insurance costs. I have yet to find something accurate. There is a lot of speculation or forecasting. Nothing solid right now. Best place to read (I read him also) is Charles Gaba @ ACA Signups. ~~~~~~~ Republicans blame […]

Donating to Trump’s White House East Wing Demolition

Much of this might not be so bad if Tru_p had any taste for architecture. I suspect the Beverly Hill Billies might have better architectural taste than our president. Probably best to get used to it and correct it after he is gone. ~~~~~~~ “I Asked My Cellphone Service Provider T-Mobile What the Deal Was […]

Rising Prices and Costs from Tariffs are Impacting Inflation

Most of us have read about tariffs and rising prices. Coupled together a piece from The Economist and Robert Reich’s latest. “Trump’s impact on the economy and the nation? The damage from the tariffs that are in place is starting to be felt. The collapse in migration is an enormous and underappreciated shock to the economy. […]

An Insecure Supply and Supply Chain Made Even More Insecure

Tariffs do not make the United States secure. Many countries like to sell and supply to the US because it is a large market. The people are more secure and can afford many things. The US relies on foreign countries to supply many different things to it. Some of the hazards of such a reliance […]

A Revolution in Congressional Decision-Making

J.P. McJefferson The dysfunction of today’s federal government is not simply the product of political division or individual leaders; it is rooted in the internal rules of Congress itself. The Founders, in one of their few major oversights, granted Congress the authority to make its own procedural rules (Article I, Section 5) without establishing any […]

Traditional Medicare Open Enrollment is Now

Still issues with Medicare Advantage plans being easy to use and similar to Traditional Medicare. One of the big issues is getting authorization for additional care. MA plans are meant to be profitable. Indeed, various organizations bid on providing care under Medicare Advantage. The they have to meet whatever their bidding targeted them. Denial of […]