@1:02, , 6/12/19

1

On Politics: Biden vs. Trump

NYT > Politics - 30 minutes ago

In the most ferocious day of attacks so far in the campaign, the two men traded insults as they each campaigned in Iowa.

Losers fighting their way to the bottom. 

2 

House Approves Court Action to Enforce Democrats’ Subpoenas

Nicholas Fandos at NYT > Politics - 4 hours ago

The House voted on Tuesday to authorize its committees to go directly to court to enforce subpoenas that the Trump administration is resisting or ignoring.

Yes 

3 

A Truce Falters, and a Plan to Raise Congress’s Pay Falls Apart

Emily Cochrane at NYT > Politics - 4 hours ago

Democratic and Republican House leaders tried to broker a deal for an increase after a decade of frozen pay, but ran up against vulnerable freshmen Democrats.

Just pay congress. 

It is cheaper.

4 

Democrats to Scrutinize Ex-Lobbyist’s Role in Trump’s Arms Sales to Gulf Nations

Edward Wong and Catie Edmondson at NYT > Politics - 4 hours ago

Legislators are scrutinizing State Department officials under Mike Pompeo, including Charles Faulkner, a former lobbyist who represented Raytheon Company.

Guns on credit.

5 

Climate Change Poses Major Risks to Financial Markets, Regulator Warns

Coral Davenport at NYT > Politics - 4 hours ago

The regulator, who sits on a powerful government panel that oversees major financial markets, likened global warming risks to the 2008 mortgage crisis.

The risk is not immediate though it is existential. 

Game over and billions will die.

6 

Buttigieg Outlines Foreign Policy Views, Urging End to ‘Endless War’

Trip Gabriel at NYT > Politics - 4 hours ago

The speech in his home state of Indiana seemed aimed at easing concerns about his age and lack of experience in world affairs.

George Orwell needed a title for his forcast.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four

7 

Wednesday: CPI

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 4 hours ago

Wednesday: • At 7:00 AM ET, The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) will release the results for the *mortgage purchase applications index*. • At 8:30 AM, The *Consumer Price Index for May* from the BLS. The consensus is for 0.1% increase in CPI, and a 0.2% increase in core CPI.

No inflation; no growth.

8 

House Approves Court Action to Enforce Democrats’ Subpoenas

Nicholas Fandos at NYT > Politics - 6 hours ago

The House voted on Tuesday to authorize its committees to go directly to court to enforce subpoenas that the Trump administration is resisting or ignoring.

I do not want President Pence.

9 

As 2020 Candidates Struggle to Be Heard, Their Grumbling Gets Louder

Lisa Lerer and Reid J. Epstein at NYT > Politics - 6 hours ago

There’s only so much room in the spotlight in the Democratic presidential race, leaving some candidates feeling left out. “It’s a ‘Hunger Games’ situation,” one said.

It is not yet primary season.  The Convention is far in the future.

10 

LA area Port Traffic Down Year-over-year in May

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 7 hours ago

*Special note:* The expansion to the Panama Canal was completed in 2016 (As I noted a few years ago), and some of the traffic that used the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is probably going through the canal. This might be impacting TEUs on the West Coast. On the impact of the trade war, from Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero: “One year into the trade war, escalating tariffs have pushed retailers to order goods early, warehouses are brimming with inventory as a result, and in response, ocean carriers are managing their vessels to deal with reduced demand,” Cord... more » 

Tariffs are doing what they do. 

11

Trump Brags About Mexico Deal, but Reveals No Details

Michael D. Shear at NYT > Politics - 8 hours ago

The president’s dramatic flourish came a day after Mexico’s foreign minister publicly denied that his country has an undisclosed immigration agreement with the U.S.

Mexico knows.

12 

What to Know About the Alabama Chemical Castration Law

Alan Blinder at NYT > Politics - 8 hours ago

Alabama is the latest state to use drugs to try to reduce recidivism among sex offenders.

Cruel and unusual punishment is unconstitutional.
I have been told "Short eyes" do not survive prison.

13 

Book Reviews & Fundraising Update

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 9 hours ago

We have now raised $6,278. That means we have made the goal of ten reviews at $5,000 and are $1,722 from the second goal of six reviewsyes’re $4,722 from the final goal of a booklet meant to teach how to think better about society, world events and the future. DONATE OR SUBSCRIBE I want […]

He is trying.

14 

4 Questions Hovering Over the Raytheon-United Technologies Deal to Create a Defense Giant

Peter Eavis at NYT > Politics - 11 hours ago

The two companies say joining forces will be good for America. But President Trump and antitrust experts worry that the deal could reduce competition.

The U.S. has been warned of the "military industrial complex".
Competition does not encourage research.

15 

Alabama Could Chemically Castrate Some Sex Offenders. Here’s What That Means.

Alan Blinder at NYT > Politics - 11 hours ago

Alabama is the latest state to use drugs to try to reduce recidivism among sex offenders.

Cruel and unusual punishment is unconstitutional.
Eugenics has been ruled out.

16 

U.S. Demographics: Largest 5-year cohorts, and Ten most Common Ages in 2018

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 12 hours ago

IMPORTANT NOTE: The data below is based on the Census 2018 estimates. Housing economist Tom Lawler has pointed out some questions about earlier Census estimates, see: Lawler: "New Long-Term Population Projections Show Slower Growth than Previous Projections but Are Still Too High" Five years ago, I wrote: Census Bureau: Largest 5-year Population Cohort is now the "20 to 24" Age Group. Note: For the impact on housing, also see: Demographics: Renting vs. Owning This month the Census Bureau released the population estimates for 2018 by age, and I've updated the table from the previous... more » 

Interesting.

17 

A ‘Loser.’ An ‘Existential Threat.’ Trump and Biden Trade Barbs as They Travel to Iowa

Katie Glueck and Annie Karni at NYT > Politics - 13 hours ago

The two men, who increasingly see each other as political foils, traded sharply personal attacks as they traveled to the critical primary state.

A race to the bottom.

18 

Rachel Maddow, Chuck Todd and Lester Holt Are Among Moderators of First Democratic Debate

Michael M. Grynbaum at NYT > Politics - 15 hours ago

NBC does not have the right to set a limit.

19 

Small Business Optimism Index increased in May

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 15 hours ago

CR Note: Most of this survey is noise, but there is some information, especially on the labor market and the "Single Most Important Problem". From the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB): May 2019 Report: Small Business Optimism Index Small business optimism eclipsed pre-shutdown levels, *increasing 1.5 points to 105.0 in May*. .. [S]mall business owners added a net addition of 0.32 workers per firm, with *25 percent citing the difficulty of finding qualified workers as their Single Most Important Business Problem, matching the record high*. Sixty-two percent of owner... more » 

Noise?

20 

Tariff Fight Reveals Republican Divisions in Up-for-Grabs Arizona

Trip Gabriel at NYT > Politics - 19 hours ago

Thanks to the influx of college-educated transplants and the mobilization of Latino voters, Arizona has become a key state in 2020 politics.

Ok

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