openpgp4fpr:E0C3497126B72CA47975FC322953BB8C16043B43
In his first term, Trump increased both the budget deficit and total outstanding debt with his unsustainable fiscal policy. Now, his antagonistic and erratic trade policy is raising Treasury yields. He and his political project are brewing the very debt crisis they keep fearmongering about. The solutions they contemplate, like currency devaluation, messing with the Federal Reserve, perpetual or century bonds and a partial default on repayment obligations to China, further erode trust in the global financial system that underpins American power.
To my knowledge, intelligence gathering is one of the capabilities for which Ukraine and, indeed, all non-US members of NATO depend on the United States the most, and one which they can less readily ramp up than the production of military hardware and materiel. This latest move is, perhaps, an even bigger blow to a fair and durable peace than the recent suspension of US military aid.
It's fascinating how some people, however fringe, believe both:
I searched for German articles about this, but found none. However, the three parties expected to form the next government –the SPD, the CDU and its Bavarian sibling, the CSU– are considering to weaponize migration background against “sponsors of terror, antisemites and extremists”, which could be construed to include some peaceful critics of the Israeli government and military and their actions and plans.
The expression “world economic anchor” is meant literally and factually: the United States are the world's strongest consumer market and therefore drive demand and economic activity like no other, and, more importantly, the US dollar and Treasuries serve as a reserve currency and asset, respectively, for both central banks and private investors. This arrangement is unfair, in its own macroeconomic ways that have nothing to do with exceptionalism, manifest destiny or cultural superiority, to both the rest of the world, who end up funding the United States, and common US denizens, who suffer from inflated assets.
I for one find “Genocide Don” quite catchy. The problem with this label is that the man himself and most of his supporters will likely just shrug it off as if it weren't worth denying; it would be like calling a paid assassin a “murderer”.
Although they could do more, I wouldn't say they don't care. For instance, Germany established the Sovereign Tech Agency.
I think what @Naich@lemmings.world means is that the recent UK Supreme Court ruling gives some cover to Starmer, allowing him to pin some of the dissatisfaction with his eventual acquiescence to US pressure on the judiciary (even though Labour, being in control of the legislature, could fix the laws instead of washing their hands…).
On the one hand, scurvy is not a concern, because it is very unlikely to develop it, even with a bad diet, as far as I know. On the other hand, it might not be possible, economically viable or environmentally sound to add vitamin C to water in the way fluoridation is; I don't know enough to judge here.
Trudeau did adopt some of Trump's lingo when addressing him –by his forename, as you point out–, using "big" several times and referring to some treaty they negotiated as a "deal". He also slowed down, as if talking to someone with impaired understanding. Finally, Trudeau delivered this gem:
Now, it's not in my habit to agree with the Wall Street Journal, but Donald, they point out that, even though you're a very smart guy, this is a very dumb thing to do.
— starting at 10:34 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT_ePmJyIcw
It was brilliant; out in plain sight for anyone with mild linguistic skills yet too subtle for the Trump base to grasp any of it.
Trump could blame Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve. In fact, Trump is already pressuring him, writing or at least posting the following:
This would be a PERFECT time for Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to cut Interest Rates. He is always “late,” but he could now change his image, and quickly. Energy prices are down, Interest Rates are down, Inflation is down, even Eggs are down 69%, and Jobs are UP, all within two months - A BIG WIN for America. CUT INTEREST RATES, JEROME, AND STOP PLAYING POLITICS!
All that big talk about forcing countries to negotiate
Trump indeed touts tariffs as international leverage, but they're just as much if not more of a domestic power play that forces US businesses to kiss the ring in order to get exemptions. Businesses that pledge allegiance keep their supply chains and survive, whereas those that don't satisfy the Mango get to pay tariffs and compete with exempted businesses in a weakening consumer market with decreasing purchasing power.
Greg Abbott und Ted Cruz können zwar nicht mit König Maggus dem Ersten mithalten, denn seine Eleganz, seine Eloquenz und sein Großmut suchen weltweit seinesgleichen, aber ihre Anstrengungen könnten schon mit einem Schuss… auf das Gestirn… gewürdigt werden.
I think this is unironically what they are going for everywhere: delegating regulation to industry, as is the case to some extent in aviation. If they get their way, they won't need approval from the NHTSA or any other agency, because they will self-approve and likely even shape regulation themselves.
That's exactly it. Owners want people desperate, because desperate people work for less. As you point out, they start with “illegals”, but they will eventually come for the old and the disabled too, because some people will have to pick up where Social Security left and care for them and, in doing so, will become even more desperate. Who will risk their job fighting for their rights knowing that not only their own livelihood, but also that of their old mother or their disabled brother is on the line? We need to be clear: this is not about government efficiency or even a crackdown on “illegals”, but a war — the owners' war on us workers and our kin.
They've been manufacturing consent in a similar way in Germany, agitating against immigrants and dubbing some or all people in your situation “Sozialschmarotzer” –“social parasites”–. Under the pretense of fighting those threats they conjure, they've been dismantling social security — without DOGE's viciousness, but bit by bit.
thanks for using Leebra!
go to feed...