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

Republican ACA proposal is Worse than I thought

Charles Gaba assessing Republican and Trump’s mandated changes to the ACA. One sure thing the Congressional Republicans are resisting is the thought of extending the enhanced tax credits. Without which, most people could not afford healthcare insurance. Keep in mind what this is all about also. Just in case you forgot, the program cuts is […]

If his lips are moving, he’s lying

Trump is borrowing from the Zohran “Socialist” Mamdani playbook to brand himself as the affordability president. ““I AM THE AFFORDABILITY PRESIDENT,” Trump wrote in the Saturday morning [Pravda Social] post. “Trump based that proclamation on his claim that “DRUG PRICES ARE FALLING AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, 500%, 600%, 700%, and more.” He also suggested […]

Deepening Stagflationary Contraction

“November ISM manufacturing report indicates deepening stagflationary contraction”  – by New Deal democrat Normally we begin each month with reports on both construction spending and manufacturing. But even though th federal shutdown has been over for more than three weeks, data releases have been both very sparse and very stale. In particular, construction spending for August […]

Aluminum is the new mercury

Looks like RFK Jr has pivoted from lying about the long-discredited Thimerosal-autism connection to blaming aluminum-containing adjuvants for autism. Since there’s no evidence for this, RFK Jr’s position is that studies have not definitively ruled out a link between vaccines and autism. Well, science doesn’t deal in proof, it deals in the weight of evidence. […]

Protestors Let Lose by the Courts

Another brief read. This time as a partial take from TPM’s, “Chicago Protestors Reel After Fending Off Federal Charges,” TPM Josh Kovensky piece. Again, referencing my experience in 1971. 4th Bn 10th Marines trained for riot control in Washington D.C. No special loaded weapons. Just stock M-14s with no rounds passed out to us. Probable […]

Caribbean Boat Strike

An interesting column by The Washington Post‘s Alex Horton and Ellen Nakashima. “Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: “Kill them all.” The longer the U.S. surveillance aircraft followed the boat, the more confident intelligence analysts watching from command centers became that the 11 people on board were ferrying drugs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave […]

Health Insurance Premium Spikes in Another Month as Enhancements Set to Expire

Abbreviated look at the impact of discontinuance of ACA subsidies in 2025 if Congress does not extend them. Keep in mind the discontinuance of these subsidies will help to balance out the tax breaks President Trump and Republicans have planned for upper income brackets. Much needed by Republicans and Tru_p.. “Health Insurance Premium Spikes Imminent […]

New Deal democrat’s Weekly Indicators for November 24 – 28

 – by New Deal democrat My “Weekly Indicators” post is up at Seeking Alpha. In the aggregate, consumer spending remains robust. On the other hand, as I pointed out yesterday with my aggregation of the various regional Fed reports on manufacturing and services, the largest sector of the US economy appears to be stagnant or even shrinking […]