@9:06, , 6/11/19

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1

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

Trip Gabriel at NYT > Politics - 3 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.

"Divide and rule"

2 

On Politics: Trump Sees Future in Tariffs

NYT > Politics - 7 hours ago

Concluding that his tariff threat worked with Mexico, the president vowed to hit Beijing with more levies if it did not accede to America’s trade demands.

The pissing contest with China continues.

3 

Trump Says Mexico Tariffs Worked, Emboldening Trade Fight With China

Ana Swanson and Jeanna Smialek at NYT > Politics - 11 hours ago

President Trump backed off his threat to impose tariffs on Mexico last week — but the encounter suggests more tariffs could be on the way

Trump continues to lie.

4 

Trump Needs a Target to Stay Interested in His Campaign. For Now, It’s Biden.

Annie Karni and Maggie Haberman at NYT > Politics - 11 hours ago

On Tuesday, President Trump will engage with the former vice president, if indirectly, for the first time during the 2020 campaign when they both make appearances in Iowa.

Trump is morally bankrupt. 

5 

How Much Will Age Matter in the 2020 Race?

Lisa Lerer at NYT > Politics - 11 hours ago

In the On Politics newsletter: The generational gap could be a big deal in the 2020 election — and that goes for both candidates and voters.

It is early days.

6 

Inspectors Say Iran Is Increasing Production of Nuclear Fuel

David E. Sanger at NYT > Politics - 11 hours ago

The move, which involves low-enriched uranium, comes after President Trump abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal and as tensions between Tehran and Washington have increased.

It is one of their few tools.

7 

Tuesday: PPI, Small Business Index

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 13 hours ago

From Matthew Graham at Mortgage News Daily: Mortgage Rates Move Up From Long-Term Lows Mortgage rates had a fairly epic week last week, spending each day effectively pinned to the lowest levels since September 2017. That followed a swift move lower in the previous week and solid improvements every week since late April. … Things may be changing today. [Most Prevalent Rates *30YR FIXED - 3.875%*] emphasis added Tuesday: • At 6:00 AM ET, NFIB *Small Business Optimism Index* for May. • At 8:30 AM, The *Producer Price Index for May* from the BLS. The consensus is for a 0.1% increase in... more » 

No loan.

8 

Border Agency’s Images of Travelers Stolen in Hack

Zolan Kanno-Youngs and David E. Sanger at NYT > Politics - 13 hours ago

The government said tens of thousands of images of travelers and license plates had been hacked after they were transferred without authorization by a subcontractor.

There is no real digital security.

9 

Trump’s Competition for Most Unpopular Politician in New York: de Blasio

William Neuman at NYT > Politics - 13 hours ago

A statewide poll suggests that President Trump is better liked than Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has become more unpopular since declaring his 2020 candidacy.

I don't care.

10 

Justice Breyer Raises Specter of Perpetual Detention Without Trial at Guantánamo

Charlie Savage and Carol Rosenberg at NYT > Politics - 15 hours ago

The Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of a man who has been held in wartime detention for 17 years with no end in sight.

It is a political court.   Guantanamo  is a Republican project.

11 

Electric Truck Company Workhorse Gets Needed Cash Infusion

Matthew Goldstein at NYT > Politics - 15 hours ago

The company raised $25 million to help it complete orders and was not intended to go toward a proposed purchase of a General Motors plant in Ohio.

Other peoples money burning. 

12 

Supreme Court to Hear Racial Discrimination Case Against Comcast

Adam Liptak at NYT > Politics - 17 hours ago

Byron Allen, an African-American entrepreneur, says the cable giant discriminated against his company, Entertainment Studios Networks.

Entertainment Studios has a case against the common carrier Comcast.

13

Elizabeth Warren Has Lots of Plans. Together, They Would Remake the Economy.

Thomas Kaplan and Jim Tankersley at NYT > Politics - 17 hours ago

Ms. Warren could face a difficult path to winning over moderates, but by pushing out so many proposals so early, she is forcing her Democratic rivals to play catch-up.

There are no moderates this year.

14

Seattle Real Estate in April: Sales up 5.6% YoY, Inventory up 124% YoY from Low Levels

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 17 hours ago

The Northwest Multiple Listing Service reported Home Buyers Are "Better Off," But Market Is Heating Up Year-over-year (YOY) closed sales rose about 1.6 percent (from 9,011 in May 2018 to last month's total of 9,153). ... The MLS report for May shows 16,133 active listings at month end, up from the year-ago total of 12,956. King County recorded the largest gain in total inventory, at more than 62 percent, but supply remained below 2 months in that and several other counties. System-wide there was 1.76 months of supply at the end of May, well below the 4-to-6 months that experts say ... more » 

Microsoft thinks it is doing better.

15

No Secret Immigration Deal Exists With U.S., Mexico’s Foreign Minister Says

Michael D. Shear and Maggie Haberman at NYT > Politics - 20 hours ago

The United States and Mexico will review immigration figures in 45 and 90 days, but Marcelo Ebrard directly contradicted the president’s claim of a signed deal.

Trump is a hero in his own mind.

16 

Justice Dept. Agrees to Turn Over Key Mueller Evidence to House

Nicholas Fandos at NYT > Politics - 20 hours ago

The scope of the material wasn’t immediately clear, but the House Judiciary Committee chairman said it would include “interview notes, firsthand accounts of misconduct and other critical evidence.”

Burr has no choice.

 17

Trump Renews Attacks on Fed, Putting Central Bank in a Bind

Jeanna Smialek at NYT > Politics - 20 hours ago

The Federal Reserve has gone from lifting rates to watching for signs that a cut is needed, but President Trump is still blasting its policies.

The Federal Reserve Bank is politically independent.

18

The Record Job Streak: A couple of Comments

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 20 hours ago

The employment report has shown positive job growth for a record 104 months. However, if we adjust for Decennial Census hiring and firing (data here) the streak of consecutive positive jobs reports was *actually 111 months long*. It makes sense to adjust for the Census hiring and firing since that was preplanned and unrelated to the business cycle. If the job streak continues into 2020, then the headline streak will probably end in June 2020 when a large number of temporary Census workers are let go. But if we adjust for temporary Census hiring, then the streak might continue. Of... more » 

Desperation will work at a loss.

 19

Trump Defends ‘Beautiful’ Tariffs as a Negotiating Tactic

Katie Rogers at NYT > Politics - 22 hours ago

“Right now China is getting absolutely decimated” over American tariffs, the president asserted.

Blazing Saddles

20 

BLS: Job Openings "Mostly Unchanged" at 7.4 Million in April

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 22 hours ago

Notes: In April there were 7.449 million job openings, and, according to the April Employment report, there were 5.824 million unemployed. So, for the fourteenth consecutive month, there were more job openings than people unemployed. Also note that the number of job openings has exceeded the number of hires since January 2015 (over 4 years). From the BLS: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary *The number of job openings was little changed at 7.4 million on the last business day of April*, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the mo

Working fo free is a bad idea.

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