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

You and what army?

“The Trump administration denied on Sunday that it had violated a court order by deporting hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants to a prison in El Salvador over the weekend, saying that the president had broad powers to quickly expel them under an 18th-century law meant for wartime. “The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, also asserted […]

Pitiful, Contemptible . . .

Holding young musicians accountable for their race, color, etc., not allowing them to express themselves in music. The United States Marine Band was founded in 1798. Thomas Jefferson gave it its nickname, “The President’s Own.” Today, 135 Marines still perform the score of the White House from parties to inaugurations. So, there was excitement, last […]

Microplastics and the Impact on Healthcare

Environment, Energy, & Related News from the Week ending March 15th, R.J. Sigmund. Two interesting articles on microplastics in healthcare and the environment. – Microplastics contribute to evolution of antimicrobial resistance, study finds, University of Minnesota A new study by researchers at Boston University indicates microplastics in the environment might facilitate antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Applied and […]

Taxes are for the little people

From an article in the NY Review of Books: “ . . . the 94 percent marginal tax rate [Reagan] was theoretically subject to an income above $200,000, though in reality Reagan, like other actors, was able to pay a 25 percent capital gains rate by receiving his earnings form “temporary corporations” set up for […]

Lying about Social Security

President Musk recently called Social Security a “Ponzi Scheme.” He’s hardly the first to repeat this lie, but he and his mini-me’s in DOGE have painted a target on Social Security. I’m sorry it’s necessary to explain this again, but we are being lied to. Here are the facts about Social Security. • No, it’s […]

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 […]