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

Critics of VA Cuts Say: “This is Life and Death Stuff”

– by Suzanne Gordon and Steve Early Washington Monthly also at Z Musk and Trump’s DOGE cuts are a grave threat to veterans’ healthcare and benefits or the VA as many know it as. Earlier this month, Vietnam War veteran Paul Cox went to a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center in St. Louis to […]

Manufacturing Index returns to Contraction

ISM manufacturing index returns to contraction as the front-running of tariffs has ended  – 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 […]

How to make money while losing money

“Newsmax raised $75 million in its IPO Friday, with shares priced at $10. Newsmax’s rapid ascent in its first two days of trading pushed the company’s market cap to $16.7 billion. Shares traded around $190 early Tuesday.” Sounds great, right? But scroll down a bit: “The company is facing an ongoing lawsuit from Dominion Voting […]

DOGE puts dollars over veterans

I recall a time when the GOP posed as the staunch defenders of America’s military, including military veterans. But Republicans have stopped saluting veterans and save their salutes for tax cuts. “The Veterans Affairs Department is planning to lay off tens of thousands of employees throughout its organization later this year, according to an internal […]

Trump & Musk Families Saving Billions From Republican Tax Plans?

It sure looks like this is the plan according to Americans for Tax Fairness. If one of the expiring provisions–lower individual tax rates – were instead extended, Trump could have an extra and ~ $2.7 million in his pocket over 10 years. And that is a modest estimate by the Tax Fairness Group. An extension […]

Balance of Payments Primer, Part II

A follow up to Part I. Brief Intro: The international role of the dollar and how it does or doesn’t affect the U.S. balance of payments. Paul throws in some discussion on the foundational fallacies underlying Trump officials beliefs on trade. “A Balance of Payments Primer, Part II: The Dollar and All That“ – by […]

Why I am Not Concerned by February increase in Core PCE inflation

 – by New Deal democrat The deluge of new monthly data starts tomorrow. Today there’s no significant data, so let me follow up on a point from Friday’s personal income and spending report. I never look to see what others are saying before I finish my own analysis, because I want to be as unbiased as […]