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

Heathcare Insurance Companies Abandoning Medicare Advantage redux

There are changes coming to the Medicare market place and Medicare Advantage. Healthcare Insurance companies are leaving the Medicare Advantage market. “Market exits by Humana, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare will collectively affect nearly 70% of those 1.8 million individuals.” The remainder of the 1.8 million will be looking at new plans with the same insurance provider. […]

Musk was not an employee of DOGE and “had no actual or formal authority,” White House said

~~~~~~~ February 18, 2025, CBS: Billionaire Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration is to find ways to cut costs through the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). But a new court filing from the White House states that the Tesla CEO isn’t an employee of DOGE, adding that Musk “has no actual or formal authority to […]

Age of Dis-Enlightenment

The Age of Dis-Enlightenment “It takes an ignorant man to lead an ignorant throng,”  w/ deepest apologies to Woody, the Kingston Trio et al.   Dumb — yeah but, they are the epitome of dis-enlightenmenters.  Dissers here, there,  everywhere back during The Age of Enlightenment.  But, then was 200-350 years ago when it was new and […]

Trump Appointed Judge: Trump Can’t Use the Alien Enemies Act

I would contend the attorneys helping Trump should know this? Maybe they thought no one else would catch it? Something to think about. Interesting facts about the Alien Enemies Act. “in reaching his decision and wrote that the historical record makes it clear that this is a law intended for use during wartime.” Civil Discourse […]

April ISM manufacturing report continues showing contraction

  – by New Deal democrat [Note: I’ll report separately on construction spending, also released this morning] Although manufacturing is of diminishing importance to the economy, (it was in deep contraction both in 2015-16 and again in 2022 without any recession), the ISM manufacturing index remains an important indicator with a 75+ year history of accurately describing […]

Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts Did Not Pay for Itself. Congress will Still look for Spending Cuts

Can Trump cut Government spending even more? Yes, he probably could. It would be detrimental to the United States citizens. It appears we concerns about spending exceeding tax receipts in 2025 and creating deficits. There is a solution to all of this. Passed under Reconciliation, Trumps Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was to pay for […]

I do not believe my mind can be open that much

Lindsey Graham Asks Catholics to ‘Keep an Open Mind’ About Making Trump the Pope: ‘Has Many Upsides,’ Mediaite Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) asked Catholics and the papal conclave to “keep an open mind” about the possibility of President Donald Trump becoming the next pope on Tuesday after Trump jokingly said he would “like to be pope” following Pope Francis’ death. After […]

Jobless claims: “and so, it begins”?

 – by New Deal democrat I suspect we will look back on this morning’s report on jobless claims as the first concrete sign of impending recession. Initial claims rose 18,000 to 241,000, the highest since February 22. The four week moving average rose 5,500 to 226,000. With the usual one week lag, continuing claims rose 83,000 […]