Patrick W. Watson

If your movement needs more than 1 second to decide whether it embraces an overt racist, maybe something is wrong with your movement.

Obamacare Prices Become Public, Highlighting Big Increases

NYT framing of this story is terrible, completely ignoring that it is Trump's Republicans causing the increase.

The headline and image seem more designed to deflect blame onto Obama.

Link to transcript: www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/spe...

YouTube video by Reagan Library President Reagan's Radio Address on Free and Fair Trade on April 25, 1987

Link to video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t5Q...

The Reagan radio address on free trade which Ontario used in a TV commercial that so upset Trump is interesting for another reason: A president spoke clearly and coherently about public affairs and didn't make it all about himself.

I suspect that's what really annoyed Trump.

Another good reason Russians should keep their windows closed. Was it a random apartment or was someone targeted?

AI and Hot Mics AI is changing the way business leaders talk. Investors should change the way they think.

When AI execs talk, are they describing reality or trying to please the president? No one knows. And that's a problem. www.mauldineconomics.com/connecting-t...

Why Republicans’ attempts to kill Obamacare keep backfiring The White House and some Republicans are growing nervous that Democrats’ demand to boost Obamacare as part of a government funding bill has salience with voters.

It keeps backfiring because their alternative plan is "let the sick people suffer and die."

It’s also stupid. Millions of his own supporters still live in those states.

Female vets fire back at Hegseth over claims of lowered military standards Federal law already prohibits gender-based standards for specific roles.

I spent 2 years commanding a mixed-gender company. My observation:

Soldiers are uncannily good at knowing who they can rely on in combat, and it has almost nothing to do physical fitness or personal appearance.

Wait, I was told the US would get out of Middle East quagmires and make other countries defend themselves.

America’s Zombie Democracy Its trappings remain, but authoritarianism and AI are hollowing out our humanity.

"Twenty-first-century authoritarianism keeps the public content with abundant calories and dazzling entertainment. Its dominant emotions aren’t euphoria and rage, but indifference and cynicism."

“It's fair to say that 80% of the world's problems involve old men hanging on who are afraid of death and insignificance, and they won't let go. “ - Barack Obama
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The root of a lot of our current problems are billionaires and politicians who won at life but then refused to sail off into the sunset.

Wait, I was told tariff policy was stabilizing and the Fed should look through its effects.

YouTube video by EarthWindandFireVEVO Earth, Wind & Fire - September (Official Audio)

It’s Sept 21. Do you remember?

Pretty sure Leo will send Dolan out to pasture soon.

The new rule for Republicans: You can't say no to Trump. If he wants X badly enough, you do whatever it takes to give him X. The tiny bit of resistance we see is purely symbolic. No Republican will dare to be the deciding vote against him.

Trump Administration Live Updates: Shutdown Looms as Bill to Extend Funding Reaches Senate

Good look to Senate Democrats, but I'm pretty sure GOP will kill the filibuster if necessary to give Trump what he wants. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...

Hi and thanks! I'm remiss as well. We live in depressing times so it's easy to withdraw. I have to fight that impulse.

America is getting the economy we voted for The beatings will continue until someone comes in and fudges the data.

Trump won't change any of his policies unless Republicans begin *openly* opposing them.

No sign of that yet, only some quiet grumbling. And it's usually hedged with things like "Harris would be been even worse."

So What, Now What? I think that I see what IS when it comes to the current gerrymandering efforts in Texas and in California. I’d like to ask readers

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Because the worst looks increasingly likely.

I'm not sure about that. Trump COVID response caused hundreds of thousands of needless deaths, yet he still got elected again.

👇👇👇

Trump Team Weighing Options to Extend Influence to Fed Banks The Trump administration is reviewing options for exerting more influence over the Federal Reserve’s 12 regional banks that would potentially extend its reach beyond personnel appointments in Washingt...

Here’s a question: *Why* is Trump so hell bent on making the fed cut rates?

I don’t believe for a minute he cares about balancing the budget or what people pay for mortgages. Everything we know about him says it’s probably something far more selfish.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

If you like inflation and high borrowing costs, you like what Trump is doing to the Fed.

If the bond market doesn’t have a major freak out tomorrow, Trump will conclude he can fire others, too.

And, then, by next spring, he will have full control of the FOMC and get those zero interest rates he wants.

these aren't jokes or distractions

i dont understand why more ppl aren't more concerned about this.. he has a sec of def and now with ICE his own personal army

Donald Trump, Gen. Kruse, and the Perils of Yes Men There are good reasons the best leaders don’t surround themselves with sycophants.

"I’ve learned in my military career that disagreement, when voiced respectfully and appropriately, is not disrespect. In fact, it is a deeper form of respect."

But Donald Trump is sending a different, dangerous signal: "Disagreement is not tolerated."

www.thebulwark.com/p/donald-tru...

Socialism Is Coming but Not the Way You Think Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase (JPM), which just marked the most profitable year any US bank has ever had, spoke on CNBC from Davos last week.

With Trump now saying he wants more "deals" like Intel, this piece I wrote in 2020 sounds hauntingly accurate. www.mauldineconomics.com/connecting-t...

OceanGate and the Trump Economy Rich idiot breaks all the rules. Creates a death trap. And everyone hears the popping noises signaling that it’s all about to implode.

NEW: Remember the rich dilettante who ignored all warnings and took a stupidly designed sub down to see the 'Titanic,' but the sub imploded and he and his passengers instantly died?

The U.S. economy under Trump is starting to resemble that story...
www.thebulwark.com/p/oceangate-...