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

The Tariff Reckoning Comes Due

I thought this would be interesting now as compared to a month ago when David Zetland posted on AI. David’s experiment with AI is a comparison to an earlier commentary by him. Both his and AI’s commentary: “AI’s impacts on learning” can be found at the link. David start’s off by asking a question of […]

So how are those Trump tariffs working out?

The right-wing prophecies: “Leading Trump sycophant Sean Hannity claimed tariffs would generate “a new golden age of American wealth and exceptionalism.” “Fox Business’ Elizabeth MacDonald stated Trump was trying to “reignite a manufacturing golden age.” “Newsmax host Carl Higbie declared, “American jobs being created because we want to make things more fair.” Reality, as we […]

SCOTUS overturns Trump tariffs

“The justices, divided 6-3 held that Trump’s aggressive approach to tariffs on products entering the United States from across the world was not permitted under a 1977 law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).” *snip* “The decision does not affect all of Trump’s tariffs, leaving in place ones he imposed on steel and […]

Annals of euphemism

How many euphemisms are there for TACO? “Carve-out.” “Step-backs.” “Exclusions.” “Price relief.” “Rollback.” How about “advancing to the rear?” Trump’s tariffs are turning out to be fairy tales told to children. Trump wrote that his tariffs are unleashing “an American economic miracle, and we are quickly building the greatest economy in the history of the […]

Trump hyperventilates about tariffs

Two “deadlines” have come and gone for the SCOTUS to rule on the constitutionality of Trump’s tariffs. Meanwhile, Trump is throwing brush-back pitches. He bleated on social media: “”If the Supreme Court rules against the United States of America on this National Security bonanza, WE’RE SCREWED!” So the tariffs aren’t to enforce fair trade practices, […]

Betting against the Trump tariffs

The right of Trump to impose tariffs at will and without Congressional approval is headed to the SCOTUS. What’s the odds that the tariffs will be overturned? Turns out there’s a market in tariff refunds if the SCOTUS rules against Trump: “In July the US government brought in $29.6 billion in tariff revenue compared to […]

Social Security COLA conundrum

“The 2026 COLA is likely to be 2.7%, according to a recent projection by The Senior Citizens League. That’s a notch above this year’s COLA of 2.5%, which bumped up the average monthly benefit by roughly $50 for retired workers, and applies to more than 70 million retired senior citizens and disabled workers.” But does […]

Tariffs: Money for nothing?

The dollars are rolling in to the federal government coffers from tariffs. And Trump is claiming victory. “Indeed, Trump has routinely cited the tariff revenue as evidence that his trade approach, which has sowed uncertainty and begun to increase prices for consumers, is a win for the United States. Members of his administration have argued […]

Trump threatens EU and Mexico with higher consumption taxes on Americans

Trump is counting on his base not understanding that tariffs are a consumption tax. They make imported goods more expensive and allow domestic producers to jack up their prices by relieving competition. “[Douglas Holtz-Eakin] added that Trump was using the letters to demand attention, but, “In the end, these are letters to other countries about […]

Trump’s voodoo economics

Trump claims his tariffs will bring in $3 trillion, enough to pay for the Big Beautiful Bill and also lower the national debt. This is magical thinking. Tariffs are simply a consumption tax that hits the middle class and working class hardest. It makes goods more expensive, driving inflation. It takes money out of the […]