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

Jobless claims continue to be the most positive leading indicator of all

 – by New Deal democrat I’ll get to housing permits and starts later this morning. But first, let me take my regular look at initial and continuing jobless claims. As a reminder, I look at jobless claims because historically they have been a very good short leading indicator for the economy. And they continue to […]

New Sheriff in the FED

Trump appointee (2017) Jerome Powell has been relieved of his duty as the Chairman of the FED. Not sure if Trump could have fired him or not. Not sure why Jerome Powell took so much grief from Trump? Yet (or as far as I know) Powell intends to stay on the Fed Board. It will […]

Increasing Unemployment Due to Deportation

Trump’s Immigration Enforcement Hurts All Workers “Unemployment has increased for U.S.-born workers in the face of mass deportations,” Economic Policy Institute During the 2024 campaign, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance stated mass deportations and a crackdown on immigration would open up more jobs for unemployed U.S. citizens. The removal of immigrant workers would cause opportunities […]

Three Million did Lose Their Healthcare Insurance in 2026

1 trillion dollars cut from healthcare for tax cuts and CMS Trump causes 3 or more million people to lose healthcare insurance. Snatching government assistance away from them is just a start. In case you did not know, the 3 million consisted of children. More cuts will come as healthcare is unsubsidized. Medicaid Cuts: The […]

One Way Climate Change Will Affect Crops

The Earth was always experiencing natural warming and cooling cycles. What is occurring today is different and concerning. Climate scientists: “every decade since 1850 has been warmer than the last four decades”. The ten hottest years have all happened since 2000, because of human activity. Rising temperatures does not just mean hotter weather. The Earth’s climate is complex. […]

Rentals and your retirement portfolio

I’m not an investment advisor. I do have personal experience in investing going back over 40 years. I’ve been retired for nearly two years and have no regrets so far. “Rental properties carry concentrated risk, illiquidity, and management overhead…The return needs to be significantly better [than an investment elsewhere] to justify the extra complexity. Often, […]

Just Some BLS and CPI Report Numbers for April 2026

 President Donald Trump returned from the spectacle of a Chinese state visit to a less than welcoming U.S. economy . . . with the military band and garden tour in Beijing giving way to pressure over how to fix America’s escalating inflation rate. I would be curious as to what the Chinese thought of the […]

The bond market is sending a message

– by New Deal democrat The bond market is sending the T—-p Administration, and the US government as a whole, a message. It believes the US is in a secular inflationary trend.  This is not only because T—-p’s tariffs, and his boneheaded war with Iran, are inflationary, but also because last year’s Big Budget Bust-out […]