Day: June 24, 2025

The Upside Of Tariffs?

I know, I know I have been critical of Donny’s one trick pony, tariffs….but in all fairness I want to let my readers know how the tariffs are effecting this country….

How much cash has been brought into the treasury?

President Donald Trump’s radical new tariff regime has brought in a surge of revenue from importers who must pay the higher duties. But is it enough to replace the income tax as the main source of funding for the federal government, as Trump administration officials have argued?

Treasury Department data shows that will be a massive stretch.

The United States has generated $74.3 billion this year from tariffs as of June 18, the latest data available — 84.7% more than the same time last year. Federal income taxes, meanwhile, brought in $2.4 trillion in 2024.

And the $34.1 billion difference in tariff revenue year-on-year is just part of the story. High levies can cause huge surges in revenue that later level off as trade patterns shift and businesses seek to lower costs along their supply chains.

https://www.politico.com/interactives/2025/trump-tariff-income-tracker/

To be clear I never question how much cash would be coming in……my main concern was what it would do to prices and effect the common person.

And along those lines this report….

Predictions from mainstream economists were dire after President Donald Trump launched his tariff campaign just a couple weeks after he began his second term in office: Prices would rise — sharply — they said, reigniting an inflation crisis that tens of millions of Americans had elected him to solve.

But that massive, tariff-induced inflation spike hasn’t materialized. Not even close.

Not yet, anyway.

Consumer prices rose just 2.4%, annually, last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was less than economists had expected, and only slightly higher than the 2.3% rate in April, which was the US economy’s lowest inflation since February 2021. According to the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index most closely followed by the Federal Reserve, core inflation — which strips out volatile items like food and gas prices — fell to 2.5% in April. That was the lowest reading since March 2021.

…

Research firm Telsey Advisory Group, which has been tracking the prices of 80 select consumer items across a wide variety of retail categories, reported this week that just 19 products it has tracked have gained in price since mid-April — and 16 items’ prices fell. Similarly, the New York Times’ Wirecutter, which recommends consumer products, tracked the prices for 40 of its top picks over the course of two months and found this week that the vast majority didn’t change price at all: 10 gained in price and only half of those gained more than 7%.

“There haven’t been many significant upticks in prices as of yet given that many retailers are still selling through their lower-cost inventory,” Dana Telsey, CEO and chief research officer of Telsey Advisory Group told CNN.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/20/business/tariff-price-increases-inflation-explained

So far that is good news….but keep in mind that the harsher tariffs have been put into pause for a 90 day period and that is soon to expire….that is unless Donny does what I expect….another pause.

So far so good….but how long can that last?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

For Whites Only

***Let me state from the beginning that at NO point do I agree with anything about this turn of events….I offer it up solely to show just how f*cked up these douche-bags are***

I grew up in the South so at my age I am well aware of the segregation and the ‘Whites Only” signs that were plastered everywhere.

Since about 2010 there has been more harsh language from nationalism and the tearing apart the Constitution…..and now it is becoming more and more troubling since that d/bag took office.

This is a paper that won an award for content….

A white nationalist recently won an academic award for his law school paper arguing how the constitution only applies to white people.

Preston Damsky, a proud white nationalist and antisemite, garnered acclaimed from a University of Florida professor over his paper detailing his interpretation of the doctrine. Last fall, he wrote the paper on “originalism” for the law school seminar. An idea upheld by many conservatives, originalism interprets the constitution as written during its original time period.

According to the New York Times, a Trump-appointed judge who taught the class awarded Damsky the highest honor for his paper. In his assignment, Damsky argued that “We The People,” as first written on the Constitution’s Preamble, actually refers to white people. With this mindset, he defended the idea of stripping voting rights for nonwhite citizens.

He further stated his support for shoot-to-kill orders toward “criminal infiltrators at the border.” He also referred to an America where white people did not make up the majority as a “terrible crime.” Damsky later uttered that white people “cannot be expected to meekly swallow this demographic assault on their sovereignty.”

Instead of concern for his viewpoints, his professor, Judge John L. Badalamenti, congratulated him on his provocative essay. Damsky received the book award, granted to the best student in the class, for his detailed work. Badalamenti did not comment on why he chose his recipient.

The award issuance sparked controversy across the school, with opposers stating Damsky’s recognition undermines his dangerous rhetoric. Despite the calls to revoke his award, the University of Florida’s interim dean Merritt McAlister affirmed the matter, citing his “free speech rights.” McAlister also noted  “institutional neutrality,” a new term in the rise of anti-DEI policies where schools remain impartial on political issues.

However, Damsky’s academic language did not continue on the internet. Months after the dean’s decision, Damsky created an X account to further showcase his views. His post that Jewish people must be ” abolished by any means necessary,” led to his latest scandal.

The jarring remark led to the University of Florida suspending him and barring him from campus. The University even boosted police presence at the law school. However, others believe the initial celebration of his works empowered Damsky to become even louder with his racist beliefs.

The issue also comes at a time where free speech has its own interpretation in Florida public institutions. One professor called out the double standards of Damsky being able to write his essay while she had to change the name of her class over its assertion of race.

(blackenterprise.com)

To me this is clearly racist BS….truth be told if one thinks about the Founders….who were they?

A bunch of white guys most of whom owned slaves….I can see where the jump can be made….not that I would ever agree with the premise at all.

What about you?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Is It A Ceasefire?

Yes the US had hits on Iran’s nuke facilities and the world braced for the possible retaliation after all the tough talk….and then….

Iran has made its first retaliatory response to the US airstrikes—it fired a barrage of missiles at an American military base in Qatar on Monday, reports the Wall Street Journal. However, Qatar said it had successfully intercepted the missiles, or at least the first round of them. Sources tell the New York Times that Iran warned Qatari officials about the strikes in advance to minimize civilian casualties—and the attack came shortly after Qatar shut down its airspace.

Iran confirmed the attack on the Al Udeid Air Base after explosions were heard there. An announcement on Iran state TV boasted of “a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America’s aggression,” per the AP. The base, headquarters of US Central Command, is the biggest American military installation in the Mideast. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties there.

After attack analysis…..

The Pentagon says it has no reports of injuries or deaths at its military base in Qatar after Iran fired a barrage of missiles, reports the Washington Post. And the AP notes that Iran made a point to say that it used the same number of missiles as the US dropped on Iran, which the outlet sees as a “likely desire to de-escalate.” Whether that’s an accurate read remains to be seen, but a few other details suggest that Tehran kept things relatively contained:

  • The New York Times, citing three Iranian officials, reports that Iran gave Qatar a head’s up about the attack on the Al Udeid Air Base in order to limit casualties. Qatar says it was able to intercept all the missiles, and the nation also shut down its airspace as a precaution.

After the smoke and dust had cleared Dear Clueless Leader announces a ceasefire…..

President Trump claimed in a post on Truth Social on Monday that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, ending what he called “The 12 Day War,” an announcement that came amid heavy Israeli attacks on Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said in a post on X that there was no “agreement” on a ceasefire but said Iran would cease counterattacks on Israel if Israel stopped its strikes, which has been Tehran’s position.

“As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around. As of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations,” Aragchi said.

“However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards. The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” he added.

https://news.antiwar.com/2025/06/23/trump-says-iran-and-israel-have-agreed-to-a-ceasefire/

One note here….Neither Israel nor Iran immediately confirmed Trump’s announcement that they had agreed to a ceasefire.

Tit for tat warnings?

The New York Times, citing three Iranian officials, reports that Iran gave Qatar a head’s up about the attack on the Al Udeid Air Base in order to limit casualties. Qatar says it was able to intercept all the missiles, and the nation also shut down its airspace as a precaution.

I am sure that Qatar shared that info with the US.

Then there was a report that the US told Iran of the upcoming airstrike….

Vice President JD Vance raised major questions about the success of the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities after suggesting that Tehran’s near-bomb-grade uranium was moved before the attacks.

Israeli sources were quoted as saying that Iran moved as much as 880 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity from a secure nuclear storage plant in the ancient city of Isfahan.

“Iran has made no secret that they have protected this material,” Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told CNN.

Announcing the raids, the president said the nuclear sites at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz were “completely and fully obliterated.”

(thedailybeast.com)

The physical sites may have been obliterated but the material remains….where was the success?

The situation is still fluid in my opinion and subject to stupid thinking.

If the ceasefire is a reality then I say bully for not escalating this to the breaking point.

Here is a closing thought….the hope was the attack would cause a popular uprising against the standing government in Iran….so far that has not happened….

However, this strategy has already backfired. Instead of provoking division, namely between opponents of the Iranian government and its backers, the attacks have galvanized national unity across ideological lines. Millions have taken to the streets in cities across Iran including Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan—not only in protest of foreign aggression, but in defense of Iran’s sovereignty. Even longstanding critics of Iran’s government have closed ranks, recognizing that the existential threat posed by US-Israeli aggression transcends domestic political grievances. Iranians around the country are now even assisting security forces to counter and dismantle espionage networks working with Mossad inside Iran. This convergence of sentiment, seen in everything from volunteer enlistments to mass mobilization efforts, underscores a recurring lesson of imperialist miscalculation: external pressures often consolidate, rather than fracture, national identity.

Does not look like ‘regime change’ is in the wind….for now….

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”