I read today in "Finance Business Times" that Jared Bernstein and Dean Baker are leaving public service and public advocacy together to start their own hedge fund!
Just like a small child, Trump loses interest very quickly and looks for the next shiny object to focus on. He has zero concern for the lives he has ended, and for the lives of the living that have been forever changed by this uncaring escapade. It only requires one country to start a war, but it needs all the countries involved to declare a ceasefire. At this point, Iran is winning, and regardless of whatever drivel comes out of Trump's mouth tonight, I see no reason for them to cease hostilities. Nor do I see Israel retreating from Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen answer to no one, and the Iraqi militants aligned with Iran have shown no inclination for peace. Another easily overlooked player is Ukraine and its 10-year defense partnership with three Gulf countries. It looks like several Gulf countries are preparing for a longer struggle with Iran. This defense agreement will provide Ukraine with much-needed funding in its war with Russia. Iran has given America a black eye and shown the World that our military might is not what many thought it was. Do you think anyone in China is watching?
The Gulf countries are contracting with Ukraine to beef up their *defenses* against Iranian drones and missiles. This is primarily a defensive capability. What they are saying is that they expect Iran to continue to be a threat into the indefinite future. Sounds like wisdom to me!
If midterms were held in mid April the Ds would roll to victory… it appears increasingly likely Iran and T will back away and both claim victory, the damage will linger, prices will not return to pre “war” levels, the market might continue to creep up. Will voters in November punish the Rs? Of course before November we may be at war with Mars and as a united planet respond and support our leader.
We are far from seeing the edge of the woods. Trump's chair of the Fed, Kevin Warsh, will likely take over on May 15. Trump took a motorcade trip to the Supreme Court to intimidate the justices today. The infrastructure of a lot of petroleum facilities in the Middle East are in ashes. The US and Israel have earned the lasting enmity of many Gulf residents. ICE agents are still roaming without adult supervision. And about a third of Americans are still buying the bull****.
JB, we're talking about the Trump administration and Republicans. As such, human lives are irrelevant. The amount of death that Trump and the GOP have been responsible for since January 20, 2026 including during Trump's first term and the pandemic is shocking. American presidents are routinely responsible for countless needless deaths, in part because the US takes it as a given that we can wage war on any country, regardless of whether there is a valid or even any real justification for the war. Our nuclear weapons assure us that we will never face externally-imposed regime change, but we have no compunction about imposing our will on other, militarily weaker countries.
The problem with Iran began in 1953, when we decided that its democratically elected leader had to go in order for us to protect our oil company's profits. We ousted Mohammad Mossadegh, who then, conveniently ended up dead. We replaced Mossadegh with Shah Pahlavi, who became notorious as a brutal dictator. We have little if any genuine respect for democracy and have always valued corporate profits over the will of the voters in other countries. Now, our democracy-loving electorate has turned the government over to a fascist who despises democracy and free and fair elections.
In 1979, the Iranian Revolution forced the Shah to flee and the rule of the Ayatollahs began. We, the United States, are directly responsible for the cruel reign of the current leadership of Iran. Why wouldn't the people of Iran hate the U.S. right along with their own repressive leaders?
Everyone who dies in Iran these days is a death that can be laid on the shoulders of the U.S., Donald Trump, the GOP, the American electorate, and the SCOTUS, which could have prevented Trump from running again in 2024, after he engaged in insurrection. Instead, they greatly empowered him in Trump v. United States. Responsibility for everything that Trump has done since retaking office is shared by all those I mentioned above. One thing that "American Exceptionalism," a dangerous fantasy, means is that the U.S. can and does deny responsibility for all the despicable acts we commit internationally. American Exceptionalism, which in some ways is just a more expansive expression of American white Christian Nationalism, is our self-awarded get out of "jail" free card. Of course, white Christian Nationalism simply narrows the description of who is included in American "greatness." As long as we cling to American Exceptionalism, we will continue to commit injustice around the world. Yes, it is worse with Trump as president, but only by degree.
American Exceptionalism serves to put the U.S. above the law, both domestic and international. It frees us, in the minds of our current leaders from adhering to the Constitution. Now, with Hegseth at the DoD, we are not bound by the Geneva Conventions, or the ideas of war crimes and genocide. Our partner in this war, is lsrael, which, under Netanyahu, committed both war crimes and genocide. American Exceptionalism demands that we not sign on to the ICC, because we deny that any other country can judge us. Only we can judge our own country, an obvious fatal conflict of interests. The SCOTUS has no meaningful accountability, since it, like this country, has decided that only it can be a judge of itself. Finally, we are in utter denial about who and what we are as a country. The key point is not what Trump has done to this country. The truth is Trump is who and what he as president because we accepted that. Voters decided that cheap eggs and gas, and fewer immigrants were worth abandoning democracy.
What’s this?
I read today in "Finance Business Times" that Jared Bernstein and Dean Baker are leaving public service and public advocacy together to start their own hedge fund!
(April Fools’! Ha. Ha.! 😊)
Just like a small child, Trump loses interest very quickly and looks for the next shiny object to focus on. He has zero concern for the lives he has ended, and for the lives of the living that have been forever changed by this uncaring escapade. It only requires one country to start a war, but it needs all the countries involved to declare a ceasefire. At this point, Iran is winning, and regardless of whatever drivel comes out of Trump's mouth tonight, I see no reason for them to cease hostilities. Nor do I see Israel retreating from Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen answer to no one, and the Iraqi militants aligned with Iran have shown no inclination for peace. Another easily overlooked player is Ukraine and its 10-year defense partnership with three Gulf countries. It looks like several Gulf countries are preparing for a longer struggle with Iran. This defense agreement will provide Ukraine with much-needed funding in its war with Russia. Iran has given America a black eye and shown the World that our military might is not what many thought it was. Do you think anyone in China is watching?
The Gulf countries are contracting with Ukraine to beef up their *defenses* against Iranian drones and missiles. This is primarily a defensive capability. What they are saying is that they expect Iran to continue to be a threat into the indefinite future. Sounds like wisdom to me!
And Ukraine is getting Patriot missiles from them since we have used up so many of ours. I only Trump were a tenth as smart as Zelensky.
Right-on ! Mr. Hackett; your observations are astute and will no doubt bear out in future developments !
If midterms were held in mid April the Ds would roll to victory… it appears increasingly likely Iran and T will back away and both claim victory, the damage will linger, prices will not return to pre “war” levels, the market might continue to creep up. Will voters in November punish the Rs? Of course before November we may be at war with Mars and as a united planet respond and support our leader.
We use HDPE resin in our business. . The suppliers are saying it’s not about the price. The market has seized up and there is no supply.
dim
dire
dung
vomit
INCONTINENT
INCLEMENT
INBENT
YUK
We are far from seeing the edge of the woods. Trump's chair of the Fed, Kevin Warsh, will likely take over on May 15. Trump took a motorcade trip to the Supreme Court to intimidate the justices today. The infrastructure of a lot of petroleum facilities in the Middle East are in ashes. The US and Israel have earned the lasting enmity of many Gulf residents. ICE agents are still roaming without adult supervision. And about a third of Americans are still buying the bull****.
great analysis. thanks!
JB, we're talking about the Trump administration and Republicans. As such, human lives are irrelevant. The amount of death that Trump and the GOP have been responsible for since January 20, 2026 including during Trump's first term and the pandemic is shocking. American presidents are routinely responsible for countless needless deaths, in part because the US takes it as a given that we can wage war on any country, regardless of whether there is a valid or even any real justification for the war. Our nuclear weapons assure us that we will never face externally-imposed regime change, but we have no compunction about imposing our will on other, militarily weaker countries.
The problem with Iran began in 1953, when we decided that its democratically elected leader had to go in order for us to protect our oil company's profits. We ousted Mohammad Mossadegh, who then, conveniently ended up dead. We replaced Mossadegh with Shah Pahlavi, who became notorious as a brutal dictator. We have little if any genuine respect for democracy and have always valued corporate profits over the will of the voters in other countries. Now, our democracy-loving electorate has turned the government over to a fascist who despises democracy and free and fair elections.
In 1979, the Iranian Revolution forced the Shah to flee and the rule of the Ayatollahs began. We, the United States, are directly responsible for the cruel reign of the current leadership of Iran. Why wouldn't the people of Iran hate the U.S. right along with their own repressive leaders?
Everyone who dies in Iran these days is a death that can be laid on the shoulders of the U.S., Donald Trump, the GOP, the American electorate, and the SCOTUS, which could have prevented Trump from running again in 2024, after he engaged in insurrection. Instead, they greatly empowered him in Trump v. United States. Responsibility for everything that Trump has done since retaking office is shared by all those I mentioned above. One thing that "American Exceptionalism," a dangerous fantasy, means is that the U.S. can and does deny responsibility for all the despicable acts we commit internationally. American Exceptionalism, which in some ways is just a more expansive expression of American white Christian Nationalism, is our self-awarded get out of "jail" free card. Of course, white Christian Nationalism simply narrows the description of who is included in American "greatness." As long as we cling to American Exceptionalism, we will continue to commit injustice around the world. Yes, it is worse with Trump as president, but only by degree.
American Exceptionalism serves to put the U.S. above the law, both domestic and international. It frees us, in the minds of our current leaders from adhering to the Constitution. Now, with Hegseth at the DoD, we are not bound by the Geneva Conventions, or the ideas of war crimes and genocide. Our partner in this war, is lsrael, which, under Netanyahu, committed both war crimes and genocide. American Exceptionalism demands that we not sign on to the ICC, because we deny that any other country can judge us. Only we can judge our own country, an obvious fatal conflict of interests. The SCOTUS has no meaningful accountability, since it, like this country, has decided that only it can be a judge of itself. Finally, we are in utter denial about who and what we are as a country. The key point is not what Trump has done to this country. The truth is Trump is who and what he as president because we accepted that. Voters decided that cheap eggs and gas, and fewer immigrants were worth abandoning democracy.