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

DOGE Cuts Fail to Stop US Spending Hitting a Record. Yeah, Like Cuts are Going to Make the Difference

Elon Musk’s DOGE Cuts Fail to Stop US Spending from Hitting Record, Newsweek. Instead for a $2 trillion increase in tax income, repeal the 2017 tax break. It will hit the upper 10% in income the hardest. Aggressive efficiency push failed to curb soaring federal spending, which hit a record $603 billion last month, according to […]

The Trump fascist takeover proceeds

“We’re in the midst of an authoritarian takeover of the U.S. government. It’s been coming and coming, and not everybody is prepared to read it that way. The characters regarded as people to emulate, like Orban and Putin and so on, all indicate that the strategy is to create an illiberal democracy or an authoritarian […]

Funding bill skips measure to avert physician pay cuts

It would not surprise me if the Republican controlled Senate found a way to get doctors and increase in Medicare payments. But then again, one way to kill Medicare is not to fund doctor Medicare payments to avoid the cuts. Medicare and Social Security reductions? Angry Bear, Dan Crawford. “Funding bill skips measure to avert […]

“Sell-off prompted mainly by T—-p’s personal economic predilection for tariffs”

The constant threats of tariff this and tariff that has its consequences and creates an instability to which the market reacts. Threatening our next-door neighbors with variable tariff rates does not bode well for Wall Street. Forty percent to seven percent, hmmmm . . . No recession yet. NDd has his report below. The Quick […]

Kevin Drum and the lead-crime connection

My favorite blogger, Kevin Drum, died recently from multiple myeloma. I started following Kevin when he blogged as “calpundit,” and through all his various iterations. I found his comments thoughtful, often provocative and grounded in data and evidence. One of the most remarkable stories that Kevin blogged about was the connection between leaded gasoline and […]

‘Schumer Must Resign’ as Senate Dem Leader?

Democrats agreed to invoke cloture on the continuing resolution (CR) in exchange for considering four amendments to it. Republican senators then swiftly rejected the amendments. I am not sure why Dems seem to always get sucked into deals and lose. After Republicans agreeing to review Dem amendments to the bill, eight Democrats voted with Republicans to pass […]

Falsely Claiming Measles Vax Causes Deaths ‘Every Year’

Robert Kennedy spreading BS in an interview. This article does have a clip to it (MedPage Today on which you can listen to Mr. “irregardless” Robert Kennedy discuss his beliefs in having or getting immunity to the measles or chickenpox. The immunity comes without being inoculated with vaccines according to Robert. In this MedPage Today video, Paul […]

State of emergency

Apparently, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) warned her colleagues to pass the CR or else: “He will declare a state of emergency,” the senator told her colleagues, seemingly referring to a potential action President Trump might take if Congress does not pass a spending bill before the government runs out of funding midnight Friday.” LOL! “potential”? […]