@18:12, , 7/10/19

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1

Acosta Defends His Role in Brokering Jeffrey Epstein Plea Deal

Katie Rogers, Maggie Haberman and Peter Baker at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 48 minutes ago

R. Alexander Acosta, the labor secretary, rebuffed calls for his resignation by Democrats, who criticized his decision as a prosecutor in 2008 to accept a lenient sentence for Mr. Epstein.

There is no possible defense.

2 

Pelosi Appeals for Democratic Unity While Dressing Down Dissenters

Julie Hirschfeld Davis at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 48 minutes ago

The speaker, at an extraordinary, closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus, tried to restore comity amid a dispute with four liberal freshmen and demanded an end to the public criticism.

The Democrats need a united front in the general election.

The next step is primary contests.

Let us not give the Republicans hope.

3

 

China and U.S. Differ Over Agricultural Purchases Trump Boasted About

Ana Swanson and Keith Bradsher at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 48 minutes ago

The disparity over the large-scale purchases has raised questions about whether the United States offered up too much in order to de-escalate the trade war.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/04/opinion/trump-trade-wars.html

4 

Simple Decision Making

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 1 hour ago

The simplest decision making loop is “only do things you like.” Sometimes getting something we want (presumably something which will let us do things we like) we must do something we dislike, or wouldn’t otherwise do. So the next decision is “is what I get from doing something I don’t like worth doing this thing […]

Naked but near enough true.

5 

FOMC Minutes: "the case for somewhat more accommodative policy had strengthened"

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 2 hours ago

From the Fed: Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, June 18-19, 2019. A few excerpts: In their discussion of monetary policy decisions at this meeting, participants noted that, under their baseline outlook, the labor market was likely to remain strong with economic activity growing at a moderate pace. However, *they judged that the risks and uncertainties surrounding their outlooks, particularly those related to the global economic outlook, had intensified in recent weeks*. Moreover, inflation continued to run below the Committee's 2 percent objective; similarly, inflation ... more » 

The Fed will cut to keep the bubble expanding.

6 

‘It Could Have Been Any of Us’: Disdain for Trump Runs Among Ambassadors

David E. Sanger at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

Sir Kim Darroch, the British ambassador who resigned Wednesday, was not alone in his criticism of the Trump administration and its habit of leaving foreign envoys in the dark.

No surprise.
The question is who made the leak.
I like the NSA as the leaker.
The FSB is in second place.

7 

Acosta Defends Role in Brokering Epstein Plea Deal

Katie Rogers, Maggie Haberman and Peter Baker at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

R. Alexander Acosta, the labor secretary, rebuffed resignation calls by Democrats, who criticized his decision as a prosecutor in 2008 to accept a lenient sentence for Jeffrey Epstein.

"Rank has its priveleges"

Rank is in his mind.

8 

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Is Sued for Blocking Critics on Twitter

Jeffery C. Mays at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

A federal appeals panel’s ruling forbidding President Trump from blocking social media critics is being cited in two lawsuits against Ms. Ocasio-Cortez.

Trolling is part of Republican privelege perhapse.

9 

Mississippi Politician Blocks Female Reporter From Campaign Trip

Karen Zraick at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

Robert Foster, a state representative, invoked the “Billy Graham rule” of not spending time alone with women other than one’s wife. He said photos could be used to “insinuate an extramarital affair.”

So now we suspect he is guilty of assault on women.

10 

These Companies Wanted Tariffs. How Are They Faring Now?

Peter Eavis at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

President Trump’s trade policies have helped American steel, aluminum, lumber, solar and washing-machine businesses, but not as much as they might have hoped.

Every little bit helps.

11 

Houston Real Estate in June: Sales down 5% YoY, Inventory Up 11%

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 5 hours ago

From the HAR: Houston Home Sales Fall Shy of Last June's Record, But Continue to Outpace 2018 Despite continued strength in the Houston real estate market fueled by more robust inventory and low interest rates, June home sales could not match the historic levels of a year earlier, in June of 2018. According to the latest monthly report from the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR), single-family home sales were down 3.4 percent. However, on a year-to-date basis, sales are still outpacing 2018’s record volume. June marked the first month of 2019 with declining single-family home s... more » 

Houston, we have a problem.

12 

Federal Appeals Court Rules for Trump in Emoluments Case

Sharon LaFraniere at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

The decision blocks one of two lawsuits challenging the president over profits at his Washington hotel.

Appeals go on and on.

13 

Trump Proposes Ways to Improve Care for Kidney Disease

Reed Abelson and Katie Thomas at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

The administration set ambitious goals to move people out of traditional dialysis and to encourage more organ transplants.

14 

Amy McGrath Raises $2.5 Million in 24 Hours, Seeking to Oust McConnell

Matt Stevens at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

The fund-raising haul was the most ever in the first 24 hours of a Senate campaign. But Mr. McConnell is a formidable fund-raiser as well.

It could not happen to a more a;ppropriate senator.

15 

Amazon HQ2 Is Upending Northern Virginia’s Already Unstable Housing Market

Lola Fadulu at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

Homeowners are getting bombarded by speculators asking them to sell. Tenants are fighting rent increases. And Amazon hasn’t even started building.

Northern Virginia volunteered.

16 

Merrill: "The Fed cut is on for July"

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 6 hours ago

A few excerpts from a Merrill Lynch research note: The Fed cut is on for July Fed Chair Powell delivered a dovish testimony, hinting strongly at an upcoming cut. We now expect a 25bp cut at the July 31st meeting followed by two more cuts at the next two meetings. We are sticking with our forecast of a cumulative 75bp of easing … The Fed seems to be willing to dismiss the better data from the US and instead is focusing on the weaker global data. Indeed, when Powell was asked if the strong jobs report changed his views on cuts, he stated "no". Rather Powell emphasized that "it appear... more » 

The open markets committee will meet next month.

17

Fed Chair Powell: "Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress"

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 9 hours ago

From Fed Chair Powell: Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress Our baseline outlook is for economic growth to remain solid, labor markets to stay strong, and inflation to move back up over time to the Committee's 2 percent objective. However, uncertainties about the outlook have increased in recent months. In particular, economic momentum appears to have slowed in some major foreign economies, and that weakness could affect the U.S. economy. Moreover, a number of government policy issues have yet to be resolved, including trade developments, the federal debt ceiling, and B... more » 

Self deception. 

18

MBA: Mortgage Applications Decreased in Latest Weekly Survey

Calculated Risk at Calculated Risk - 11 hours ago

From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decreased in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications decreased 2.4 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 5, 2019. This week’s results include an adjustment for the Fourth of July holiday. ... The Refinance Index decreased 7 percent from the previous week and was 88 percent higher than the same week one year ago. *The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 2 percent from one week earlier*. The unadjusted Purchase Index ... more » 

A shrinking market.

19

Ambitious Climate Plans Might Need a Radical Legislative One: Ending the Filibuster

Coral Davenport and Thomas Kaplan at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 12 hours ago

Even if Democrats win the White House and the Senate in 2020, effectively combating climate change might require the elimination of the Senate filibuster.

That is a bad idea.   Minorities need some power.

20 

So You Want to Overturn Obamacare. Here Are Some Things That Would Be Headaches.

Margot Sanger-Katz at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 12 hours ago

People would lose insurance, but workplace lactation rooms, menu calorie information and entire government programs would also be affected.

These are just the trimmings.

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