Get your house in order
Speaker Mike Johnson is in the unenviable position of trying to get the President's agenda into one big, beautiful bill and passed by Memorial Day. Although he has his small majority enlarged a tiny bit, (he can now survive 3 defections) Republicans in the House are divided. There are those who have become purists when it comes to cutting spending. The spokesman for this group appears to be Texas Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the House Freedom caucus. Yesterday he told reporters that the Senate plan, which was recently sent over to the House, actually increases deficits. He said: "The Senate needs to produce a plan to us with seriousness and resolve to reduce deficits. I'm tired of the fake math in the swamp."
Then there was the absurd spectacle of Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida hosting a discharge petition which forced a vote on a measure that would have permitted remote voting for new parents at such a critical moment for the President's agenda. Instead, a separate resolution from Luna to allow "vote pairing" was adopted with the help of democrats, who once again voting as a bloc. The Constitution requires House members to vote in person. It would seem that some don't like the rule, and one can't help thinking that some dems don't care for the Constitution either. It amounted to valuable time wasted.
That leads us to today. The day in which Speaker Johnson rolls the dice and allows a vote on the Senate's budget resolution despite not yet having the votes to pass it. With one eye always on the midterm elections, it may be the ultimate test of how much loyalty House Republicans have for President Trump.
In other news:
President Trump’s global tariffs took effect this morning. They hit nearly all U.S. allies and raised import taxes on Chinese goods to at least 104 percent. Stocks slumped in Asia and Europe in response. About 70 countries are trying to negotiate a trade deal with the US.
This week, the Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump to deport planeloads of Venezuelan migrants. It does come with a catch: It must ensure that would-be deportees have their day in court. The Court also blocked a lower court order directing the administration to rehire thousands of probationary federal workers.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had captured two Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russian soldiers.
At the administration’s direction, the I.R.S. agreed to help ICE find immigrants to deport.
The government froze more than $1 billion in funding for Cornell and $790 million for Northwestern as it investigates the universities over racial discrimination and blatant antisemitism.
A federal judge ordered the White House to restore the AP's reporter access to press briefings.
The Keystone pipeline system, which carries crude oil from Canada to the U.S., shut down because of an oil spill in North Dakota.
A California man pleaded guilty to trying to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh. At the time the DOJ under Merrick Garland was allowing protests of the Justices homes and then Senate Leader had just publicly condemned the SCOTUS.
The carmaker Stellantis shut down factories in Canada and Mexico, and Audi paused exports to the U.S. from Europe. Other auto companies are also taking action.
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Good morning and welcome to the news.
Elon Musk just called The President's top trade adviser, a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks.”
Seems a bit much for a man who went to jail on principle.
We do need to have some trade deals worked out soon.
A sack of bricks called. They demand Elon retract the comparison...
They are everywhere these days.
7 GOP Senators have sponsored the bill to limit President Trump’s power on tariffs. I believe they are what JP Morgan once described as the more timid elements.
Trump is right: We need to show some strength right now.
Your gonna need that strength in the upcoming Trump Depression.
I would hope that no American would be wishing for a depression.
Trump has single-handedly damaged international relationships for the long term, crashed the stock market, shocked consumers into not buying, and soon will cause another round of carnage when shit earnings reports emerge.
What Trump needs to do is make deals and end these tariffs. And he better hope that China will cooperate and withdraw because they are in a far better position to weather the storm than the US.
Trump is a disaster. When are you going to recognize this and stop trying to defend his actions? He is unnecessarily harming our nation (and others) and support from people like you is the only thing that keeps him on this track.
If Trump is involved, many on the left wish for the demise of the country
Agreed.
And he better hope that China will cooperate and withdraw because they are in a far better position to weather the storm than the US.
I disagree. That tariff we now have on them at 104% is the perfect fit for them. Leave that one in place.
Trump is a disaster.
The disaster is that a young family with both married individuals working can't afford a home or that the average price of a new car is $50,000.
I believe that.
Are they? Provide us some proof. Trumps approval numbers are holding up.
That is insane. Do some research and get some understanding of global trade.
You think Trump is improving their situation? Are you fucking kidding us?
Why? And if it’s perfect, why didn’t Trump lead with that?
How do tariffs fix that? Trump just put a 25% tariff on imported cars and parts. That will drive up the cost of all cars. He also put tariffs on materials that are used to build homes. That will drive up the cost of a new house, which not only makes new houses more expensive, but keeps the supply of available houses high. So, the cost of all homes will continue to be high.
Unfortunately, conservatives consistently oppose the idea of simply paying people more.
I am not. But it looks very much like that is what Trump is driving the whole nation, and quite likely the trading Partners of the US, towards.
Strong people "speak softly and carry a big stick".
They don't "club the shit out of everything while screaming".
This is Trump's version of Biden's Afghan withdrawal.
That's true, but to be fair, that is not what Thomas said.
Well that's three of us. One more and we'll book a tee time.
If we were in a single front trade war with China alone, you would be right. But we're not. Because this is being handled stupidly. I'm not sure why you've landed on 104% as the perfect number, but we would not be out of line retaliating for their decades of dishonest trade practices.
It's definitely a problem, but tariffs don't actually help that.
What a difference a day makes. It turns out that is exactly what it is and the number now is 125%.
It's definitely a problem, but tariffs don't actually help that.
Actually, it was the tariffs the US accepted since WWII which eventually killed the American dream.
Does tis mean trump will stop spending 4 million a weekend on golf?
Did it though? We're still in yo-yo land. Nobody knows WTF is going on, and people don't invest into stupid levels of uncertainty.
Allowing cheap labor countries to tariff US goods doesn't eliminate their cheap labor advantage.
The "American Dream" I assume you're referring to (where a single income factory worker could provide for a family) was killed by the over-zealous unions and the Panamax cargo ship. When it became cheaper to manufacture in Asia and ship across the Pacific than it was to manufacture in the US, we should have done some serious introspection. We didn't.
That particular version of the American Dream is dead forever. We can either behave like sad old morons, pining for a nostalgic time that will never return... or we can do what has made this the greatest county to ever exist and reinvent ourselves in a new, modern, forward looking way.
Would you rather have him golf or spend more time writing executive orders?
I would rather the right stop complaining about waste in government, then not say a word about trump spending 4 million a week on golf.
Yep spending 4 million to save several billion is a terrible deal.
He wasn't smart enough to avoid jail.
Was this published before Trump blinked with a 90 pause and the market rebounded somewhat.
The sycophants are praising the POTUS because Tesla had it's best day since 2013.
Imagine the stupidity of praising 22% of $233 to settle at $272 having some sort of amnesia that the stock had been at
$488.54 just a few weeks after the election.
My have the times changed,
meanwhile China, China, China.
The soccer coach (an illegal migrant) was jailed on suspicion of murdering 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez. He was charged Tuesday with an additional count for an alleged sexual attack on a teen in 2022.
Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, 43, was charged with murder for the death of Oscar Omar Hernandez. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Garcia Aquino was arrested by Los Angeles police Wednesday, April 2, on an unrelated warrant for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy in Palmdale on February 22, 2024.
“The family subsequently filed a criminal report with the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station alleging sexual abuse of their child,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during the press conference.
“This case was assigned to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau North team, who is tasked with investigating physical and sexual abuse of children, including adult felonious sexual assaults.”
Luna said that the LA Sheriff’s Department informed detectives with the LAPD of the sexual abuse allegations from 2024 when Garcia Aquino became a suspect in Hernandez’s disappearance and then murder.
On March 28, the 13-year-old went to see Garcia Aquino and boarded a Metrolink train to Palmdale, California, to help the soccer coach at a complex.
However, when the teen didn’t return home that evening, his family began looking for him.
While searching for their loved one, Garcia Aquino had allegedly picked up Hernandez’s phone the day he was reported missing when his brother Jose tried to call and told him the teen was unavailable.
Later, the coach allegedly told Hernandez’s father that he had dropped the boy off “near” the family’s home — prompting the family to contact police on March 30 and report him missing.
Investigators found the 13-year-old’s body in a wooded area of Ventura County two days later — more than 70 miles from his family’s Lancaster home, according to Los Angeles police.
LAPD Chief McDonnell also assured any other victims that any reports brought to them would be treated “as sensitively as it needs to be treated.”
Victims or anyone with information is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department at (818) 374-5415 or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at (877) 710-5273.
California youth soccer coach charged with murder in death of 13-year-old player
This is the type of people the left wants to protect and claims are merely "asylum seekers" looking to better themselves.
The American left seems to be in a very dark place.
I'd say it's abysmal. They openly support criminals and pedophiles.
Some advocate violence. Others have written op-eds claiming the US Constitution is obsolete.
All the while making the claim the administration is violating the constitution. I swear, you can't make up that level of stupidity.
Here's another one Pam. He /she should be easy to track down.
maybe is mad because could not fit inside the Tesla
I think you nailed it.
It may also relate to RFK Jr's complaint about the additives in US food.
There is no legal or constitutional requirement for the AP to have access to press briefings. Access is a PRIVELEGE. They can get the information the same way thousands of other bloggers get the briefing.
I believe the judge was very careful about his "order:"
"McFadden clarified that the order does not require the administration to give access to all eligible journalists or prohibit the government from choosing which journalists it gives interviews or questions to – but that it could not bar certain reporters on viewpoint alone."
Judge orders White House to restore Associated Press’s access
That's easy enough. Allow the AP in and just don't call on them.
Either way, the administration can still deny the privilege and not provide a justification. Although the whining, crying and idiotic speculation would increase.
Obama once did it to Fox News. He lifted the ban because other news reporters criticized the move.
I don't recall any district judge making a ruling when Obama did it.
And there lies the hypocrisy of it all.
“Just since January 20th, we’ve had over 170 lawsuits filed against us. That should be the constitutional crisis right there, 50 injunctions.”
And they are almost all judges appointed by Obama or Biden.
Does anyone not think these judges are overreaching?
Most definitely "stretching" jurisdictions.
And all looking for that "atta boy" position within the Democrat party.
So?
No. You elected a criminal, deal with it.
The city of Boston bids farewell to city councilwoman Tania Fernandes Anderson.
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson plans to plead guilty in a federal public corruption case tied to allegations that she stole thousands of dollars from taxpayers in a kickback scheme that took place in City Hall, and intends to resign.
Fernandes Anderson has signed a plea deal and is set to plead guilty, according to a filing made Tuesday in federal court.
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson to plead guilty in federal corruption case, and will resign
Boston has come a long way from the days of James Michael Curley.
Where have they all gone?
Do you support the constitution? If so, you should be applauding the Judiciary for demanding Trump give potential deportees their day in court. Are you??
Absolutely.
If so, you should be applauding the Judiciary for demanding Trump give potential deportees their day in court.
I respect the law, but I don't applaud district judges who want to obstruct a President they don't like.
Are you??
This is the lone case they were going to win. I like the way the SCOTUS handled it and I hope the precedent will be followed in the future.
Looks to me that you applaud judges who agree with Trump and claim the others are obstructionists.
You noticed that too? Pretty obvious, isn't it? MAGA, /S...
Do you mean the district judges who are overreaching their jurisdiction?
Maybe finding a judge that has jurisdiction would be a good start for your tantrums. Shopping for a partisan judge in D.C. can't do a damn thing for detainees in Texas.
Apparently you have specific circumstance in mind. So what, specifically, are you talking about?
Shopping for a partisan judge in D.C. can't do a damn thing for detainees in Texas.
Your daily column is racist.
How so?
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Ah, the ole if someone doesn't agree with the the kool aid drinkers it must be racism.
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So, as a conservative, you’re mad that Republicans don’t want to raise the deficit?
What, exactly, is wrong with remote voting for new parents? I thought conservatives valued the family. Not anymore, huh?
Right wing populists have never been logically consistent.
Never let perfect be the enemy of the good.
Logical consistency isn't about perfection, it's about honesty and intelligence.
I don't want to increase the deficit but do want the President's agenda enacted into law. It would be nice to have both, but the latter is essential.
What, exactly, is wrong with remote voting for new parents?
Nothing. As a matter of fact, Trump said he was in favor of it. Again, it is a matter of there being a proper time and place for everything. Why did Rep Luna shove that upon the House at a time when they needed to get going on the President's agenda bill?
The president’s agenda was supposed to be saving us money, not costing. It would be nice if more of his supporters were taking a critical look at what the agenda really is.
Apparently they have made a deal on this issue, and if they’re all happy with it, that’s cool. But if there’s nothing wrong with it, then why not just give it to her? This issue didn’t just develop in the last couple days. They have been talking about this for a while. Like many other members, Speaker Johnson has cast plenty of remote votes since they started doing it during Covid, and it was fine. Suddenly, it’s a problem.
Republicans seem to have developed this fetish for making people be physically present for all things whether that presence is actually relevant or not. Thus, they oppose various vote by mail schemes for regular people,; we have the orders for remote workers to go back to the office; and now proxy voting is a problem. It’s time to embrace the 21st century. I honestly don’t see why they couldn’t conduct regular business via Zoom.
Americans won't mind imported luxury goods like French wine, fashion and perfume going up by twenty five percent or more. We don't like Italian cheeses, meats and leather goods. We don't like German beers and automobiles. Nope, we hate all that shit!
/S...
Trump is now holding the Resistance hostage. Opposition politics can't do to Trump's agenda what was done to Joe Biden's Build Back Better agenda. Trump doesn't have to go hat-in-hand to beg the opposition for support. Trump has forced the opposition to beg for a negotiated compromise.
If the opposition thinks it can regain power over Trump just remember that Trump's trump card is default on sovereign debt. Trump can completely destroy the interconnected liberal (neoliberal?) world order with a simple default. Are you really sure Trump won't default?
At the least, Trump has forced the progressive left to reveal its true nature. The progressive left has completely abandoned the working class with its swift defense of the top 1%. How can the rich get richer without Free Trade? How can the rich get richer without exploitation of cheap labor around the world? We now know that the progressive left has actually been a tool of the rich that serves the rich. The progressive left has no power without rich benefactors.
The progressive left have become Reaganites and trump is pitching Mondale/sanders working class protectionism. Fascinating to watch progressives parrot one of their all time boogeymen. Milton Friedman has taken the left.