@2:38, 6/6/19

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1

Trump’s Demand for an End to Illegal Immigration Hangs Over Mexico Talks

Michael D. Shear at NYT > Politics - 1 hour ago

Asylum is a right guaranteed by international law.

John Bolton does not respect international law.

2 

Fed's Flow of Funds: Household Net Worth Increased in Q1

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 2 hours ago

The Federal Reserve released the Q1 2019 Flow of Funds report today: Flow of Funds. According to the Fed, household net worth increased in Q1 2019 to $108.6 trillion, from $104.0 trillion in Q4 2018. The Fed estimated that the value of household real estate increased to $26.1 trillion in Q1. The value of household real estate is now above the bubble peak in early 2006 - but not adjusted for inflation, and this also includes new construction. [image: Household Net Worth as Percent of GDP] *Click on graph for larger image.* The first graph shows Households and Nonprofit net worth as... more » 

The top .1% is doing well.  

3

Democrats Take Aim at Silicon Valley. They Take Its Cash, Too.

Shane Goldmacher and Stephanie Saul at NYT > Politics - 3 hours ago

Until recently Silicon Valley was seen as one of the few relatively untainted sources of big-money donations for Democratic candidates. Now, that’s changing.

Social media is a terrible idea.

Regulation is needed.

The open internet works toward equality.

Unlimited intelectual property limits equality and novelty.

4 

Las Vegas Real Estate in May: Sales Up 4% YoY, Inventory up 98% YoY

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 4 hours ago

This is a key former distressed market to follow since Las Vegas saw the largest price decline, following the housing bubble, of any of the Case-Shiller composite 20 cities. The Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors reported Local home prices stuck at $300,000, with more homes on the market, GLVAR housing statistics for May 2019 For the third straight month, the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR) reported that local home prices are hovering at $300,000 while the number of homes on the market continues to increase. ... *The total number of existing local homes, c... more » 

The Mobs are a predator culture.

5 

The Curse of Knowledge and Predicting Electoral Results

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 4 hours ago

I’m good at predicting some thing. Economic events, longer term political and social trends, and so on. When I was younger, I was also good at predicting elections. Then I started getting election results wrong. It took me a while to figure out why. I knew too much. When I was young, I didn’t follow […]

It is the curse of the Buddha.

" Nothing will be the same as once it was"

6

Trade Deficit Decreased to $50.8 Billion in April

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 5 hours ago

From the Department of Commerce reported: The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $50.8 billion in April, down $1.1 billion from $51.9 billion in March, revised. April exports were $206.8 billion, $4.6 billion less than March exports. April imports were $257.6 billion, $5.7 billion less than March imports. [image: U.S. Trade Exports Imports] *Click on graph for larger image.* Exports and imports decreased in April. Exports are 25% above the pre-recession peak and down 1% compared to April 2018; impor... more » 

Tariffs make a difference.

It is not a big difference.

7 

Europe Vows to Spend More on Defense, but U.S. Still Isn’t Happy

Steven Erlanger at NYT > Politics - 5 hours ago

Washington says it supports allies’ efforts to increase military funding and capacity, but has complained that the plans cut out American contractors.

A defensive alliance does not have a positive cash flow for any of the members.

Cooperation costs less than competition.

Capitalism is not a management model for government internally or externally.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/06/opinion/health-care-nhs-trump.html

8 

Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims at 218,000

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 5 hours ago

The DOL reported: In the week ending June 1, the advance figure for *seasonally adjusted initial claims was 218,000*, unchanged from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 215,000 to 218,000. The 4-week moving average was 215,000, a decrease of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 216,750 to 217,500. 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 image.* T... more » 

The parameter is essential. 

An honest measurement evaluates a society.

This measurement is limited.  

9

Are These Teenagers Really Running a Presidential Campaign? Yes. (Maybe.)

Jamie Lauren Keiles at NYT > Politics - 8 hours ago

The retired senator Mike Gravel gave two young fans his Twitter password and permission to campaign in his name. It might be a stunt — or the future of politics.

Educational and distracting. 

10 

Is This Gay, Sober, Poem-Writing City Council Leader the Mayor New Yorkers Want?

Jeffery C. Mays at NYT > Politics - 10 hours ago

Corey Johnson, the Council speaker, is using his personality to draw attention to issues as Mayor Bill de Blasio traverses the country to pursue a long-shot presidential bid.

I don't know.

I would let him discover his answer.

11 

On Politics: Border Arrests at 7-Year High

NYT > Politics - 10 hours ago

More than 144,200 migrants were arrested and taken into custody along the southwestern border in May, a 32 percent increase from April.

Southern America has problems.  The resolution is not on the southern U.S. border.

Donald  Trump and his supporters are a problem.

Their dammage to the world must be snubbed.

12 

Pentagon Ends Review of Deadly Niger Ambush, Again Blaming Junior Officers

Eric Schmitt at NYT > Politics - 12 hours ago

Military leaders have struggled over how to apportion blame over the deaths of four American soldiers amid family members’ demands to hold more senior officers accountable.

Any blame must rest with the politics of the situation.

The military is sacrificial.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45319/the-charge-of-the-light-brigade

13 

An Orwellian Tale? Trump Denies, Then Confirms, ‘Nasty’ Comments About Meghan Markle

Katie Rogers at NYT > Politics - 16 hours ago

The president’s comments about the Duchess of Sussex continued an Orwellian saga that he single-handedly created, forcefully denied and then revived.

Donald Trump is a racist.

14 

Elizabeth Warren, on MSNBC, Calls Hyde Amendment an Assault on the ‘Most Vulnerable’ Women

Maggie Astor at NYT > Politics - 16 hours ago

Ms. Warren sharply criticized Joe Biden for supporting the measure, drawing an explicit link between abortion rights and economic inequality.

Yes.

15 

Trump Administration Sharply Curtails Fetal Tissue Medical Research

Abby Goodnough at NYT > Politics - 18 hours ago

The Trump administration will be ending a major university contract involving fetal tissue research and will soon stop such work at the National Institutes of Health.

Another reason to remove the Trump administration.

16 

Trump Sets Off Fireworks of a Different Sort With Fourth of July Speech Plan

Peter Baker at NYT > Politics - 18 hours ago

The mayor’s office confirmed that the president intends to speak from the Lincoln Memorial, prompting criticism that he is politicizing a nonpartisan celebration.

Another reason to remove the Trump administration.

17  

Which States Will Be Hit Hardest by Trump’s Tariffs on Mexico

Karl Russell and Ana Swanson at NYT > Politics - 18 hours ago

Tariffs on Mexican imports will ripple across the United States and could cause significant pain for consumers and businesses, even those far from the southwestern border.

Another reason to remove the Trump administration.

Which state is most injured by a presidential action is the wrong question.

https://twitter.com/paulkrugman/status/1136995926894096384

18  

Thursday: Unemployment Claims, Trade Deficit, Q1 Flow of Funds

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 19 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, unchanged from 215 thousand last week. • At 8:30 AM, *Trade Balance report* for April from the Census Bureau. The consensus is the trade deficit to be $50.7 billion. The U.S. trade deficit was at $50.0 Billion the previous month. • At 12:00 PM, *Q1 Flow of Funds Accounts of the United States* from the Federal Reserve.

Paul Krugman Retweeted

Jason Furman‏Verified account @jasonfurman 2h2 hours ago

Here is the puzzling/troubling trend line on nominal wage growth. This could all turn out to have been noise in the data, but for now it is certainly looking like all the celebrations of accelerating wages six months ago (mine included) were premature.

9 replies 56 retweets 98 likes

 

19

Joe Biden Still Backs Hyde Amendment, Which Bans Federal Funds for Abortions

Katie Glueck at NYT > Politics - 21 hours ago

Mr. Biden faced a backlash over his support for the measure, which advocates say disproportionately harms poor women and women of color.

I will not support Biden.

20 

Tech Giants Amass a Lobbying Army for an Epic Washington Battle

Cecilia Kang and Kenneth P. Vogel at NYT > Politics - 21 hours ago

Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google, facing the growing possibility of antitrust action and legislation to rein in their power, are spending freely to gain influence and access.

The "Tech Giants" must lose this battle.

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