1
Senator Michael Enzi Announces His Retirement
Mr. Enzi, 75, who has held his seat since 1997, became the third Republican
senator to announce ahead of the 2020 campaign that he would not seek
re-election.
The debt is managed. I am not sad senator Enzi is retiring.
2
In Weapons Tests, North Korea Revives an Old Playbook, With a Strategic Twist
A year after beginning a bold experiment in the power of personal
diplomacy, President Trump has run headlong into its limits, discovering
that it is not a counterproliferation strategy.
Trump does not believe in diplomacy.
3
Pelosi Warns Democrats: Stay in the Center or Trump May Contest Election Results
The speaker’s “coldblooded” plan for defeating President Trump, who she
worries would challenge a slim Democratic victory in 2020, focuses on
moderate voters and avoiding a protracted impeachment bid.
Own the center is not the same as stay in the center. Trump must be decisively defeated.
5
In Push for Trade Deal, Trump Administration Shelves Sanctions Over China’s Crackdown on Uighurs
During trade talks, U.S. officials have avoided confronting China about its
persecution of Uighurs despite bipartisan pressure, fearing such a move
could harm a deal.
China is a sovereign nation.
6
Facebook Faces a Big Penalty, but Regulators Are Split Over How Big
The F.T.C. chairman seems to have the votes to approve a settlement. One of
the biggest issues has been whether to hold Mark Zuckerberg liable for
future violations.
The objective is to change the behavior of facebook.
7
New North Korea Weapons Test Threatens Trump’s Diplomatic Achievement
Kim Jong-un’s latest weapons tests signaled that North Korea was escalating
its pressure on President Trump to return to the table with a compromise on
easing sanctions, analysts said.
Trump's gesture in North Korea is a failure.
8
Biden Thinks Trump Is the Problem, Not All Republicans. Other Democrats Disagree.
The former vice president is defending his friendliness toward Republicans
in Washington, saying Mr. Trump doesn’t represent them. But others say that
view is naïve.
The Republican party selected Trump.
9
Schedule for Week of May 5, 2019
The key report this week is the April CPI.
*----- Monday, May 6th -----*
No major economic releases scheduled.
*----- Tuesday, May 7th -----*
[image: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey] 10:00 AM ET: *Job Openings
and Labor Turnover Survey* for March from the BLS.
This graph shows job openings (yellow line), hires (purple), Layoff,
Discharges and other (red column), and Quits (light blue column) from the
JOLTS.
Jobs openings increased decreased in February to 7.087 million from 7.625
million in January.
The number of job openings (yellow) were up 9% year-over-year, and Quits
... more »
Deceleration.
10
Candidates With a History of Big Promises
Six of the 23 presidential candidates have appeared in The Times’s weddings
pages. Care to guess which ones?
Sooner is better. As soon s you can is best.
11
On Politics: The Biggest Stories of the Week
It’s been a busy week in American politics. Here are some of the stories
you might have missed.
Politics are up to date.
12
Otto Warmbier’s Mother Likens North Korea to ‘Absolute Evil’
Ms. Warmbier called diplomacy with North Korea a “charade” and urged world
leaders to keep pressure on the country.
She is angry.
Do not twist the tiger's tail.
13
AAR: April Rail Carloads down 0.9% YoY, Intermodal Down 3.9% YoY
From the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Rail Time Indicators. *Graphs
and excerpts reprinted with permission*.
Volumes for U.S. railroads in April 2019 were far from ideal, but they were
much better than in March. *Total carloads in April were down 0.9%* (9,130
carloads), compared with a decline of 8.9% (93,616 carloads) in March. …
The improvement in April was due partly to a return to near-normal
operations in the Midwest as numerous rail lines that had been flooded were
returned to service — coal and grain were especially impacted. ... *Intermodal
volume fell 3.9%*, or ... more
Unhappy numbers.
14
Comments on April Employment Report
The headline jobs number at 263 thousand for April was above consensus
expectations of 180 thousand, and the previous two months were revised up
16 thousand, combined. The unemployment rate declined to 3.6%. Overall this
was a strong report.
Earlier: April Employment Report: 263,000 Jobs Added, 3.6% Unemployment Rate
In April, the year-over-year employment change was 2.620 million jobs. That
is solid year-over-year growth.
*Average Hourly Earnings*
Wage growth was close to expectations. From the BLS:
"*In April, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm
payroll... more »
A pause that depresses.
15
Trump Says He Discussed the ‘Russian Hoax’ in a Phone Call With Putin
The conversation took place shortly after the release of the special
counsel’s report documenting Russian efforts to tilt the 2016 election in
President Trump’s direction.
Putin agrees with his creature.
16
Jay Inslee, Running as a Climate Candidate, Wants Coal Gone in 10 Years
The Washington governor’s new climate plan sets a series of targets for
clean energy across three sectors: electricity, vehicles and buildings.
Yes.
17
Ohio Congressional Map Is Illegal Gerrymander, Federal Court Rules
The ruling, by a three-judge panel from the Federal District Court in
Cincinnati, ordered new maps to be drawn before the 2020 election.
I agree.
18
Fed Leaders Try to Talk Up Inflation Without Stoking Rate Cut Expectations
Despite low inflation and White House cajoling, Fed officials continued to
suggest a path of inaction on interest rates.
Wait and see is a good position.
19
Why Uncle Joe Biden Is Leading Polls
I’m finding the Biden run amusing, after a fashion, because of Joe’s
absolute refusal to pander. He was right on NAFTA, doesn’t regret three
strike laws, thinks the bankruptcy bill was great, is taking money from
lobbyists (and started his campaign at a lobbyist run party), and so on.
And he’s way ahead in the […]
Ian Welsh reads.
20
Democrats Try to Revive Talks Over Full Mueller Report as Contempt Vote Looms
House Democrats, seeking a deal with Attorney General William P. Barr,
offered a compromise on the full Mueller report that would keep some parts
secret.
Reading the full report is the next action.
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