DB

A bizarre thing to come out of the trial for the assassination of Shinzo Abe: they did a detailed autopsy to debunk conspiracy theories, and instead happened to find no evidence of ulcerative colitis — which he cited as the reason for twice resigning as PM

The only things that have kept the United States out of being a major global coffee supplier are climate, altitude, and soil, and fortunately we have a 50% tariff on Brazil which will solve these, reducing our dependence on foreign beans.

"A tariff-fueled inflation is different than a normal inflation... It is a much more painful form of inflation."

Lemme 'splain why.

It's really quite a thing to have a Secretary of Energy who does not understand, ummm... energy.

Two of my favorite coauthors, and the leading textbook authors of their respective generations -- Greg Mankiw and @betseystevenson.bsky.social -- in today's @nytimes.com dig into what Trump is doing to the economy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/o... (gift article)

Surveillance Company Flock Now Using AI to Report Us to Police if it Thinks Our Movement Patterns Are “Suspicious” | ACLU Company crosses a dangerous line by beginning to offer AI suspicion-generation functions

Surveillance cameras are no longer just recording our comings and goings — they're using AI to decide whether we should be reported to law enforcement.

An algorithm can't be trusted to determine who is a threat.

Thank you for the gerrymandering update. This encourages me to ask about the preparations from both sides post mid terms.

Worth remembering: The Constitution explicitly gives the power to set tariffs to Congress. They could stop this nonsense by the end of the day.

Trump's tariffs will go into effect:
̶A̶p̶r̶i̶l̶ ̶2̶
̶A̶p̶r̶i̶l̶ ̶9̶
̶J̶u̶l̶y̶ ̶9̶
̶A̶u̶g̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶1̶
̶A̶u̶g̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶7̶
̶w̶h̶e̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶w̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶ ̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶h̶o̶m̶e̶w̶o̶r̶k̶
... and no extensions will be granted.

I see real reasons for concern.

🧊New episode out🧊 ICE - How Trump built an American Gestapo. Masked men bundling people into unmarked cars is now a state-sponsored activity in the US. @iandunt.bsky.social and @dorianlynskey.bsky.social ask how we got here.

🎥Video available on Spotify!

Listen / watch: linktr.ee/originstoryp...

Thank goodness this guy isn't negotiating tariff rates.

Last night was a special night. We dearly missed our brother Jim but we were grateful to Brian McAlpine who played keyboards tonight and will be joining us on tour.

Thank you Aberdeen! ❤️

Rachel Reeves autumn Budget will see significant tax rises - BBC News Repeatedly borrowing more is not a long-term solution to rising day-to-day spending pressures.

I've slagged off the BBC's political analysis a lot so it's worth mentioning how good its economic analysis is. This is exactly what you want from the corporation: clearly written, easy to read, substantial, juggling lots of issues, and unafraid of making a judgement

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Elon Musk's Latest Grok Chatbot Searches For His Views Before Answering Questions Grok 4 is raising eyebrows for its unusual behavior.

This is very funny www.huffpost.com/entry/ap-us-...

Shunned Myanmar leader thrilled at US contact after Trump tariff letter Min Aung Hlaing expresses ‘sincere appreciation’ for letter from US president threatening 40% tariff

That sinking feeling when you accidentally send a tariff letter addressed to the leader of a ruling military junta that the United States refuses to recognize or (otherwise) engage with.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Trump's tariffs will cost the average American family $2,400 per year, and that number will only grow as he sends out more tariff letters.

Trump's Nobel Peace Prize nomination from Netanyahu is like a Husband of the Year nomination from O.J. Simpson

Markets aren't freaking out about the Trump tariffs because they believe he's all talk and won't follow through. I fear that's under-estimating his passion for tariffs. It's no sure thing, but I think it's a pretty good bet that we're on the cusp of a Liberation Day moment (again).

Reagan promised tax cuts would pay for themselves. Blew out the deficit.
Bush promised tax cuts would pay for themselves. Blew out the deficit.
Trump promised tax cuts would pay for themselves. Blew out the deficit.

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me four times...?

YouTube video by Justin Wolfers Understanding the national debt. What is it, how big is it, and should you worry about it?

I'm loving this series I'm doing with @anacabrera.bsky.social, #TheProfessorIsIn where we step back from the news cycle to teach the economics you'll need to understand your world.

Today: The national debt.

What is it, how big is it, and how much should you worry?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep3g...

If your fireworks budget bought you 30 percent fewer explosions of patriotic joy, thank Trump's tariffs for adding a 30 percent surcharge to imports from the world's dominant fireworks producer (China).

My guess is that this created zero American jobs, and maybe even cost some.

#freedom

A bet is a tax on bulldust, and I'm here to tax dishonest policy advice.

I'm willing to bet my family's sexy blue minivan against whatever it is that the CEA chair drives that he's wrong, and there's not a chance in hell that Trump will cut the national debt by even a penny.

Spot on. This is the clearest explanation I’ve seen. It ‘s relatable, and humanizes the issue in a way everyone can understand.

Hungary banned anything that “promotes homosexuality,” which means Pride.

However, today over 500,000 people in Budapest told the government to fuck off. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

How seriously should we take Trump's critique of the Fed?

“It’s the largest redistribution from poor to rich in a single bill in American history.”

It's a play in three regressive parts:
1. Tax cuts for the rich.
2. Spending cuts on the poor.
3. Tariffs that hit low-income folks hardest.

Hey folks, Just so you aren't sitting around, constantly reloading your browser longingly - the Melina Extra has been upgraded to a full PEP, and it will be coming out tomorrow in the early evening. Stay PEPpy!