This week improved with the news last night that O.C.G. was returned to the U.S.! Thank you for clearly detailing his case last week. Knowing more about him and his situation, made that update much sweeter. Thank you for keeping us smarter and stronger!
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) errs greatly in its analysis of the Big Beautiful Bill. They fudge where you can’t argue (future interest and inflation). First of all, their starting point misses $1.5 trillion in the first 2 years. 1) First CBO overlooks that the first 2 years will be impacted by budget additions with no offset until the 2028 tax year. The current CBO-projected annual deficit? $1.9 trillion, and we are over budget $200 billion right now! Because of huge CR add ons, the annual deficit will be $2.5 trillion over each of the next 2 years. CBO had estimated those 2026?and 2027 deficits to be $1.8 and 1.7 trillion, instead of $5 trillion—that must be borrowed at higher interest rates than CBO uses. 2) CBO uses 3.5% interest on Treasury bonds. That is far below the 4.91% that we current “enjoy” due to falling worldwide buyer-investor confidence. 3) CBO says inflation will be calculated at 2% when it now 2.4%. Tariffs will hit inflation hard! 4) That is how they get to saying hogwash like $2 trillion ADDED over 10 years. 5) CBO did not tell you they are talking about ADDED to their $52 Trillion estimate for 2035. 6) They see $54 trillion as our total outstanding deficit in 2035. I see $56 trillion if Republicans cut $13 trillion with the Big Beautiful Bill. We need a tax cut like we need a hole in the head. The fiscal irresponsibility is unfathomable. Republicans have lost their minds. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/the-25-trillion-annual-deficit-plan?r=3m1bs
About the new charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia -- if, as the Trump administration has been saying, that Mr. Garcia was, after his imprisonment at CECOT, no longer in the custody or the jurisdiction of the United States, why was the Justice Department either opening or continuing with an investigation into his possible criminal activity? If their statements about their lack of any remaining jurisdiction regarding him were sincere, why were they investigating his activity?
Reminding you of the airport protests in 2017. Arriving ill from Costa Rica on a January Saturday night, it took me three hours to leave the airport. Recommending a repeat of the massive protests. Maybe MAGA’s (and a few billionaires) would get the message about being human. Does either you or Mary know a billionaire who might speak up on behalf of paying a fair share of taxes? Thinking of 95% during WWII and that with climate change and Ukraine the situation is similar. Trickle down destroyed an equitable situation to which we must return if there is ANY HOPE for US. (91, continuous voter, Eisenhower, only Republican, Dems thereafter.)
I was very encouraged by a conversation between General Stanley McCrystal and Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House in which McCrystal said, “What we really need in the United States right now is a national conversation on character. What I mean is, we need to start individually. We need to think about what character is to us.” The conversation begins at about 27 minutes into the podcast. Here’s the link:
To “think global and act local” is to keep one eye on the big picture while acting on one’s own direct personal relationships.
McCrystal is correct. We need to start individually by thinking about what character is to us, but it can’t stop there. We need to expand that conversation to our own direct personal relationships. That is where everything happens. The health of our social system reflects the health of the legal, political, and economic subsystems, and they reflect the health of our direct personal relationships.
McCrystal started the conversation, and his advice is to follow his lead. I’m following, but it appears to me as if everyone is fulltime watching the big picture, and that is my greatest concern. Maybe this is not the venue for that dialogue, but what is?
Regardless, thank you for keep us all informed about the big picture.
This week improved with the news last night that O.C.G. was returned to the U.S.! Thank you for clearly detailing his case last week. Knowing more about him and his situation, made that update much sweeter. Thank you for keeping us smarter and stronger!
Absolutely
Thanks Andrew! I appreciate you keeping us informed. You make it easier to stay engaged!
Agreed!
Thank you. I agree with you and Ryan that remigration has been inadequately covered.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) errs greatly in its analysis of the Big Beautiful Bill. They fudge where you can’t argue (future interest and inflation). First of all, their starting point misses $1.5 trillion in the first 2 years. 1) First CBO overlooks that the first 2 years will be impacted by budget additions with no offset until the 2028 tax year. The current CBO-projected annual deficit? $1.9 trillion, and we are over budget $200 billion right now! Because of huge CR add ons, the annual deficit will be $2.5 trillion over each of the next 2 years. CBO had estimated those 2026?and 2027 deficits to be $1.8 and 1.7 trillion, instead of $5 trillion—that must be borrowed at higher interest rates than CBO uses. 2) CBO uses 3.5% interest on Treasury bonds. That is far below the 4.91% that we current “enjoy” due to falling worldwide buyer-investor confidence. 3) CBO says inflation will be calculated at 2% when it now 2.4%. Tariffs will hit inflation hard! 4) That is how they get to saying hogwash like $2 trillion ADDED over 10 years. 5) CBO did not tell you they are talking about ADDED to their $52 Trillion estimate for 2035. 6) They see $54 trillion as our total outstanding deficit in 2035. I see $56 trillion if Republicans cut $13 trillion with the Big Beautiful Bill. We need a tax cut like we need a hole in the head. The fiscal irresponsibility is unfathomable. Republicans have lost their minds. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/the-25-trillion-annual-deficit-plan?r=3m1bs
Andrew - heads up:
Trump is deploying 2,000 National Guards to LA. Fear is that he’ll declare Martial law. Please speak out now.
About the new charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia -- if, as the Trump administration has been saying, that Mr. Garcia was, after his imprisonment at CECOT, no longer in the custody or the jurisdiction of the United States, why was the Justice Department either opening or continuing with an investigation into his possible criminal activity? If their statements about their lack of any remaining jurisdiction regarding him were sincere, why were they investigating his activity?
Have you addressed this and I missed it Andrew?
Reminding you of the airport protests in 2017. Arriving ill from Costa Rica on a January Saturday night, it took me three hours to leave the airport. Recommending a repeat of the massive protests. Maybe MAGA’s (and a few billionaires) would get the message about being human. Does either you or Mary know a billionaire who might speak up on behalf of paying a fair share of taxes? Thinking of 95% during WWII and that with climate change and Ukraine the situation is similar. Trickle down destroyed an equitable situation to which we must return if there is ANY HOPE for US. (91, continuous voter, Eisenhower, only Republican, Dems thereafter.)
Appreciate your review thank you
I was very encouraged by a conversation between General Stanley McCrystal and Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House in which McCrystal said, “What we really need in the United States right now is a national conversation on character. What I mean is, we need to start individually. We need to think about what character is to us.” The conversation begins at about 27 minutes into the podcast. Here’s the link:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-importance-of-character/id1367201919?i=1000709499357
To “think global and act local” is to keep one eye on the big picture while acting on one’s own direct personal relationships.
McCrystal is correct. We need to start individually by thinking about what character is to us, but it can’t stop there. We need to expand that conversation to our own direct personal relationships. That is where everything happens. The health of our social system reflects the health of the legal, political, and economic subsystems, and they reflect the health of our direct personal relationships.
McCrystal started the conversation, and his advice is to follow his lead. I’m following, but it appears to me as if everyone is fulltime watching the big picture, and that is my greatest concern. Maybe this is not the venue for that dialogue, but what is?
Regardless, thank you for keep us all informed about the big picture.