1
Barr Again Casts Doubt on Russia Inquiry’s Origins, Aligning With Trump’s Attacks
Mr. Barr said his review of the investigation has turned up “inadequate”
answers. But some former officials expressed concern he was deliberately
undercutting it.
Barr will speak as he is instructed to speak.
2
U.S. Officials Say Iran Has Removed Missile Threat From Some Boats
Missiles have been unloaded from at least two small boats in Iranian
waters, a move that American officials said could help defuse a brewing
confrontation.
Trump does not do diplomacy.
3
Unita Blackwell, 68, Dies; Rights Crusader and Winner of Historic Election
A sharecropper’s daughter, she joined the voter-registration fight before
becoming the first black woman elected a mayor in Mississippi.
Life is still hard for blacks in Mississippi.
4
Former C.I.A. Officer Sentenced to 20 Years After Spying for China
The sentencing brings to a close one of several high-profile cases
involving Chinese attempts to recruit former American intelligence officers.
The Republican party continues to search for reds under beds.
5
Jim Jordan Claims Vindication, but Inquiry Says Talk of Abuse at Ohio State Was Rampant
An investigation into a team doctor’s sexual abuse found no hard evidence
that coaches like Mr. Jordan knew, but it said dozens of other coaches
acknowledged rumors of the doctor’s predatory behavior.
The authorities would not prosecute without documentary evidence.
6
After Alabama Abortion Law, 3 Democrats Propose a New Strategy
Senators Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and Elizabeth Warren are taking an
aggressive approach in a debate whose terms have long been set by
conservatives.
I would like to see the end of opposition to abortion on demand.
A woman can bear a child or abort a fetus without oversight.
7
De Blasio Once Ignored Trump. But in Iowa, It Was All Trump.
The mayor made his first trip to Iowa as a presidential candidate, showing
off his new focus on criticizing Mr. Trump.
Opposition to Trump is not enough.
8
Lawler: Early Read on Existing Home Sales in April
From housing economist Tom Lawler: Early Read on Existing Home Sales in
April
Based on publicly-available local realtor/MLS reports released across the
country through today, I project that* existing home sales as estimated by
the National Association of Realtors ran at a seasonally adjusted annual
rate of 5.31 million in April*, up 1.9% from March’s preliminary estimate
(which was below what state and local realtor data would have suggested),
and down 2.2% from last April’s seasonally adjusted pace. Unadjusted sales
last month should be relatively flat from last April, with the SA/... more »
It is spring.
9
Trump’s Financial Disclosure Form: Five Takeaways
The president’s family business had a down year in 2018. A close look at
the numbers shows how politics, among other factors, is affecting his
hotels, golf courses and other properties.
Trump is not doing well.
10
What Trump Got Wrong on the Investigations Into Michael Flynn
The president said he could not have known Mr. Flynn was under
investigation. But Mr. Flynn himself revealed it to a top Trump aide, and
others warned Mr. Trump about him.
Trump does not listen.
11
The Sanders-AOC Bill to Cap Interest Rates At 15% Is Too Little
All right, let’s get this out of the way: it’s better than the status quo.
But most credit card interest rates are about 20% or so, so this is about a
5% decrease. Twenty percent is already insane. Given that banks have access
to money, right now, at a little over 2.5% or so and […]
"A chicken in every pot"
Ian Welsh is correct.
12
Steven Mnuchin Refuses to Comply With Subpoena for Trump’s Tax Returns
The rejection by the Treasury secretary is most likely the last move before
the fight heads to court.
Mnuchin has instructions from above.
13
News Analysis: To Contain Iran, Trump’s Newest Line in the Sand Looks a Lot Like Obama’s
Embracing a one-year “breakout” period — a time limit on Iran’s ability to
make fuel for a nuclear bomb — was at the heart of the 2015 accord that the
U.S. left in May 2018.
Trump does not listen.
14
Sacramento Housing in April: Sales Down 6% YoY, Active Inventory up slightly YoY
The Sacramento Housing Statistics:
1) Overall sales increased to 1,496 in April, down from 1,587 in April
2018. Sales were up 13.3% from March 2019 (last month), and down 5.7% from
April 2018.
2) Active inventory was at 2,094, up from 2,082 in April 2018. That is up
slightly, 0.6% year-over-year. This is the nineteenth consecutive month
with a YoY increase in active inventory.
Inventory is still low - months of inventory is at 1.4 months, probably
closer to 4 months would be normal.
CR can't think down.
15
House Equality Act Extends Civil Rights Protections to Gay and Transgender People
The House passed legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation and gender identity, but the White House and Republican
Senate oppose it.
Trump and the senate oppose everything they did not require.
16
Q2 GDP Forecasts: 1% to 2%
From Merrill Lynch:
Based on the latest high frequency data, *2Q GDP is already tracking only
1.8%*, down 0.3pp from our prior forecast. [May 17 estimate]
emphasis added
From the NY Fed Nowcasting Report
The New York Fed Staff Nowcast stands at *1.8% for 2019:Q2*. [May 17
estimate].
And from the Altanta Fed: GDPNow
The GDPNow model estimate for real GDP growth (seasonally adjusted annual
rate) in the *second quarter of 2019 is 1.2 percent* on May 16, up from 1.1
percent on May 15. [May 16 estimate]
CR Note: These early estimates suggest real GDP growth will be under 2%
annualize... more »
These are not great numbers.
17
Trump Lifts Metal Tariffs and Delays Auto Levies, Limiting Global Trade Fight
President Trump said he would remove metal tariffs on Canada and Mexico and
delay auto tariffs, stepping back from opening another front in a global
trade war.
Even Trump resists trade isolation.
18
Kirsten Gillibrand Is Struggling. Will Abortion Rights Be Her Rallying Cry?
The New York senator is mired near the bottom of most polls but hopes to
jump-start her campaign and fund-raising as she aggressively criticizes
anti-abortion laws in Alabama and other states.
Kirsten Gillibrand may have to be a senator.
she has no ready replacement.
19
Pelosi Suggests Using ‘Impeachment as a Purpose’ to Investigate
NYT > Politics - 9 hours ago
During a news conference, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that House Democrats
could use an impeachment inquiry as a way to obtain documents and testimony
from Trump administration officials.
Impeachment is a solid reason to investigate.
20
Guaidó Officials Rally at Venezuelan Embassy in Washington as a Stalemate Ends
The police arrested activists who had occupied the embassy since April, allowing diplomats representing the Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó into the building.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Pink
These activists can find another platform.
Getting arrested is usually effective.
Having a popular cause is a nuisance.
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