Friday, May 31, 2019

@9:25, , 5/30/19

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1

US Corn Crop Failure

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 2 minutes ago
The weather catastrophe in the central United States had led to corn not being planted by the deadline. This is a serious problem, miss the deadline of May 20th and there’s little point in planting at all. let’s please stay aware of what’s happening right now with crops. Things are about to get _really_ weird […]
 
Expensive food.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_wheat
 

Trump Admits to Russia ‘Helping Me to Get Elected’

Eileen Sullivan at NYT > Politics - 31 minutes ago
Amid criticism of the special counsel’s investigation, President Trump offers an extraordinary admission, that the rival country helped him win the presidency in 2016.
 
Confession does not help the defense.
Investigation must intensify.
Putin's Russia is not a friend.
 

Mueller Delivered a Message. Washington Couldn’t Agree on What It Was.

Peter Baker at NYT > Politics - 31 minutes ago
As he stepped down from his role as special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III refused to exonerate President Trump but also avoided being declarative enough to change many minds.
 
Mueller executed his brief.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brief_(law)
 
Obviously Republicans can't or wont  read or listen. 

Mueller wrote and spoke clearly.
 

Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims Increase to 215,000

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 42 minutes ago
The DOL reported: In the week ending May 25, *the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 215,000*, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 211,000 to 212,000. The 4-week moving average was 216,750, a decrease of 3,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 220,250 to 220,500. emphasis added The previous week was revised up. The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971. *Click on graph for larger ... more » 
 
A noisy signal.
 

Q1 GDP Revised Down to 3.1% Annual Rate

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 42 minutes ago
From the BEA: Gross Domestic Product, 1st quarter 2019 (second estimate); Corporate Profits, 1st quarter 2019 (preliminary estimate) Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of *3.1 percent in the first quarter of 2019*, according to the "second" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter, real GDP increased 2.2 percent. The GDP estimate released today is based on more complete source data than were available for the "advance" estimate issued last month. In the advance estimate, the increase in real GDP in the first quarter was ... more » 
 
Guessing.
 

Four Years After Beau Biden’s Death, His Father Bonds With Voters in Pain

Katie Glueck at NYT > Politics - 2 hours ago
As Joe Biden runs for president, there is evidence that his family tragedies have helped him form connections with voters grappling with their own grief.
 
Life hurts.
It can hurt less.
Comforting does not replace good government.
 
Billions will die.  
Let us not rush the process.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malthusian_trap
 

On Politics: Mueller Breaks His Silence

NYT > Politics - 2 hours ago
Speaking publicly about his investigation for the first time, the special counsel declined to clear the president of obstruction of justice.
 
Read Mueller's statement.  He wrote it with care.
What isn't there is important. 
 

Michael Wolff Talks ‘Siege,’ Trump, Journalism and His Definition of Truth

Michael M. Grynbaum at NYT > Politics - 5 hours ago
“I’m a New York guy,” the author says. “Trump is a New York guy. In the end, we know a lot of the same people.”
 
Michael Wolff is writing entertainment.  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defamation#Public_figure_doctrine_(absence_of_malice)
He is not getting sued.
 

Disney May Halt Productions in Georgia if Abortion Law Is Enforced

Daniel Victor at NYT > Politics - 7 hours ago
The company’s chief executive, Bob Iger, said it would be “very difficult” to continue filming in the state if the law is carried out.
 
OK.
 
10 

White House Asked Navy to Hide John McCain Warship During Trump’s Visit

Maggie Haberman and Helene Cooper at NYT > Politics - 9 hours ago
While Navy officials insisted they did not hide the ship, they did give all of sailors aboard the day off on Tuesday as President Trump visited Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan.
 
It does not sound sane
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
 
I do not want a president Pence.
 
11 

Mueller Delivered a Message. Washington Couldn’t Agree on What It Was.

Peter Baker at NYT > Politics - 11 hours ago
As he stepped down from his role as special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III refused to exonerate President Trump but also avoided being declarative enough to change many minds.
 
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/30/us/politics/trump-russia-help-elected.html
Trump understood.
 
Mueller communicated clearly.
 
12 

In Graduation Speech, Hillary Clinton Calls for Renewed Attention on Russian Interference

Matt Stevens at NYT > Politics - 11 hours ago
Speaking at Hunter College commencement in New York City, Mrs. Clinton urged Americans to confront Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
 
Ok.
 
13 

In and Out of Character, Robert Mueller Makes His Lone Appearance as Special Counsel

Noah Weiland at NYT > Politics - 11 hours ago
Mr. Mueller’s decision to speak publicly for the first time as special counsel surprised observers and former colleagues, even as he stuck to plain remarks.
 
 The House must do its jobs.
 
14 

Thursday: GDP, Unemployment Claims, Pending Home Sales

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 12 hours ago
Thursday: • At 8:30 AM ET, The *initial weekly unemployment claims* report will be released. The consensus is for 215 thousand initial claims, up from 211 thousand last week. • At 8:30 AM, *Gross Domestic Product, 1st quarter 2019* (Second estimate). The consensus is that real GDP increased 3.0% annualized in Q2, down from the advance estimate of 3.2%. • At 10:00 AM, *Pending Home Sales Index* for April. The consensus is for a 0.3% increase in the index.
 
15 

Punching Iran Over Its Foreign Policy Could Lead to a Faster Path to War

Edward Wong at NYT > Politics - 13 hours ago
Wrestling with Iran’s diplomacy and military activity could prompt a confrontation between Washington and Tehran well before any showdown over a nuclear program.
 
There will be no new Persian empire.
Shia and Suni are not at peace.
 
16 

Women Sue F.B.I., Claiming Discrimination at Training Academy

Adam Goldman at NYT > Politics - 13 hours ago
The women say they were exposed to a hostile work environment, sexual harassment and inappropriate jokes while training to become agents or intelligence analysts.
 
Proof will be difficult.
 
17 

Pelosi Slow-Walks Trump’s New Nafta Deal

Glenn Thrush and Ana Swanson at NYT > Politics - 13 hours ago
Resisting President Trump’s entreaties, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is dragging out consideration of an updated North American trade deal, putting off a vote at least until the fall.
 

Nancy Pelosi Criticizes Facebook for Handling of Altered Videos

Cecilia Kang at NYT > Politics - 13 hours ago
Ms. Pelosi said the company’s decision to leave up manipulated videos of her demonstrated how the social network contributed to Russian manipulation of the 2016 election.
 
Facebook  must change its business model.
 
19 

Standing Where Barr Cleared Trump on Obstruction, Mueller Makes a Different Case

Mark Mazzetti and Charlie Savage at NYT > Politics - 15 hours ago
The special counsel hopes an appearance will be his first and last public statement about the Russia and obstruction investigation. But he left many things unsaid.
 
Yes
 
20 

House Leaders Push Mueller to Testify as More Democrats Clamor for Impeachment

Nicholas Fandos at NYT > Politics - 15 hours ago
Robert S. Mueller III stated clearly that he hoped his public statement Wednesday would be his last, but with impeachment fever rising, Democrats want him on a witness stand.
 
The House must do the investigation.
 
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