The Frankish Reich

That screenshot is classic. He ruined the economy and threatens our 200 year old constitutional order, but we don't have to bother with those annoying paper straws and filthy useless pennies. Oh, and we can rest assured that Oswald did indeed kill Kennedy.

Well, it's from a pollster I've never heard of ... but the only difference between the results here and other recent polls is that they asked the question more directly. See the recent results from respected pollsters that show a clear majority concerned about Trump disobeying court orders, etc.

So Bezos backed down? Yeah, I guess you could say that. But it was more like a shot across the bow. Play the tariff game, we'll play too ... Is it a "hostile political action" when Amazon doesn't display state sales tax inclusive prices, but rather adds one a separate amount before it processes my credit card charge? Republicans used to support full disclosure of taxes based on the notion that if you really knew what you're paying in taxes you'd support candidates who want to reduce them. Those people used to be called "Republicans."

The Twitter link is to a related story. I learned here that most people don't read anything if it isn't a Twitter link ...

Going with the 5D chess theory! Trump is always right. Now we know: Cult Member

The WSJ has been the best source of objective coverage and analysis since the start of Trump 2.0. Their editorial on the 2nd First 100 Days nails it: The White House motto seems to be that if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing too much. That’s especially true on tariffs, which could sink his Presidency. Mr. Trump was elected to control inflation and raise real incomes, but tariffs do the opposite. They guarantee at least a one-time increase in prices on imported goods that will flow through the economy. They portend shortages for consumers, and for businesses that source goods and components from abroad. The tariffs are the largest economic policy shock since Richard Nixon blew up Bretton Woods in 1971, which unleashed inflation that Nixon tried to stop with wage and price controls and a tariff. The economic consequences arguably doomed Nixon’s second term, perhaps as much as Watergate. https://www.wsj.com/opinion/donald-trump-100-days-second-term-tariffs-economy-china-ukraine-6abc2198?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

Amazon pulled back that "threat" (by which I mean "disclosing the truth"), but the point has been made. I hope Amazon and more companies do this. The price impact of tariffs shouldn't be hidden. Unless Trump course corrects soon, we'll be seeing this a lot.

If you care about autism spectrum disorder and its causes (and don't just want to make political points), here's a good starting point. tl;dr: mostly the effect of redefinition/increased likelihood of getting an ASD diagnosis: https://www.cremieux.xyz/p/whats-the-deal-with-autism-rates?r=62ptu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web So many aspects of normal child—and particularly male—behavior have been turned into issues that demand psychiatric attention, and this has been done intentionally. I am actually awestruck by the fact that RFK Jr. has not fired the head of the Child Psychiatry Branch of the National Institutes of Mental Health, one Judith Rapoport, who was once quoted as saying: I'll call a kid a zebra if it will get him the educational services I think he needs. To most people, admitting that you’ll lie to get someone diagnosed with a condition because you see a need should be a cause for alarm. Would you trust the psychiatrist telling you they’ll lie to get you services? Maybe, because you want those services, but would you like to pay for the same treatment for a million other kids? And if the next year, none of the kids deserve that treatment but they’re getting diagnosed anyway, do you want to foot the bill? That the diagnostic situation has now evolved to the point where too many people are receiving services they do not need is now so well-evidenced that debate is hard to fathom and cutting the fat is more than warranted. I wish RFK Jr. all the luck in the world in these efforts, and if he wants a succinct, well-supported report on how to do the cuts without cutting care for the kids who really need it, he has my number.

To be fair, I think that's more about Amazon doing more in-house and not using UPS for their deliveries anymore.

Maybe some of her "former colleagues" will join him on those recruiting trips.

Whatever. They had a 20 pt lead in the polls under Trump got started. By the way, will you admit that the U.S. takeover of Canada thing is absolutely idiotic? Or are you so 100% enthralled by Trump that you won't even say that?

My wife and I have a "sub-deal" to buy a $10 million home in Aspen. By which I mean: she really likes it, and the realtor says that as soon as we come up with $10 million it's ours.

And to the point - the EO about truckers needing to pass a literacy test ... Sure, it sounds good, and I kind of agree in principle. But I drive I-40 through NM/AZ/CA pretty often. Maybe 20% of big rig drivers I see are Indian Sikhs. They even have Punjabi style restaurants in the truck stops. And they don't speak great English. Who's gonna deliver those goods? Can you say "inflationary?"

So why did she cut him off at that seemingly ordinary question: how did you meet? Was she an escort or something? The ostensibly met on an airplane ...

Weird take. Certainly the largest cities have horrible school systems. But what are the highest-performing states? NJ, MA, UT, CT, VT, ID, CO, NH I see only 2 red states out of 8 ...

I hate to admit it, but he's right. Colorado, my state, take a big bow ... you are the nation's leader in 8th grade reading proficiency. 35% of our 8th graders score proficient or better. Wow. Only 65% of our kids are failing at the most basic skill. Give us a medal or something. Or move to Mississippi and crow about your 22% rate. It all sucks.

Guess not. How could they resist Trump's offer?

That's the spirit of constitutionalism!

Thanks for clarifying. But still: So taking into account the facts that Mississippi has one of the largest black populations on a percentage basis and that it is one of the poorest states, it's students aren't doing as poorly as it appears they are. Faint praise ...

Hey, look at us! Our white kids are just as good as your white kids!!* Never mind that our black kids are failing at a nation-leading rate. Mississippi, still Mississippi. *what exactly do you think "demographic adjusted" data means?

He has a point, but perhaps this isn't the ideal time to be raising prices through assigned seat fees and checked bag fees, Mr. CEO?

She knew the guardrails, just like good old G.K.

The entire Trump 47 presidency is a huge grift.

Is there a woman onboard? A minority? A dwarf maybe?