We’re approaching the end of the first year of Donald Trump’s second term. It has been fast and furious, for sure. Let’s pause and reflect on what’s happened so far. The Good While Trump haters are loathe to give him credit for anything, there have been some wins during this initial year: The Bad While…
Continue ReadingJeffrey Epstein and Russiagate
Note: this article was written before the murder of Charlie Kirk but published afterwards I took a little break from posting over the Spring. Since none of my readers are paid subscribers, I didn’t think they’d mind (or even notice). I will admit that simply scanning the headlines to see if something major happened, but…
Continue ReadingThe Politics of Violence and Murder
I confess. If you asked me on September 9 what I thought of Charlie Kirk, I would have said that I’d heard of him, knew he was a Republican and Trump supporter, but didn’t really know much about what he did nor his policy positions. That would all change the next day when he was…
Continue ReadingTariffs and the S&P 500
At the time of this writing, the S&P 500 index had dropped 12% over the previous 30 days, primarily on the uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s multiple announcements regarding tariff actions against the majority of our trade partners. Like most people, I have tax deferred retirement accounts (401k, IRA, etc) and have witnessed the impact…
Continue ReadingTariffs and Teslas
Donald Trump loves tariffs. He has even said it is “the most beautiful word.” He used tariffs pretty effectively in his first term, primarily as a negotiating tool. He has really ramped up his use of tariffs and his rhetoric surrounding them during the first 100 days of his second term. As would be expected,…
Continue ReadingThe Good and Bad of DOGE
Donald Trump’s second term is off to blistering start. He is certainly making some decisions that seem inconsistent with what one would typically consider MAGA policy goals. We’ll save tariffs, Ukraine, Greenland, and whether Trump really is a Manchurian Candidate for future articles. Today, I want to focus on DOGE. That’s Elon Musk and his…
Continue ReadingHow DEI lost its way (and what’s next?)
The 2nd Trump administration wasted no time taking aim at Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in government agencies and the private sector. Three separate executive orders have spelled out executive branch initiatives attempting to establish color-blind, merit-based systems in government and to punish companies that discriminate against anyone, even in the name of “equity.”…
Continue ReadingHappy Holidays?
I received an email from my bookkeeper a couple of days before Christmas. Her salutation was “Happy Hanukkah.” I’m not Jewish and don’t celebrate Hanukkah. Should I be offended that someone would wish me a happy holiday that I don’t celebrate myself? Should a devout Christian be offended when the store clerk says, “Happy Holidays”…
Continue ReadingTrump’s Cabinet Picks
President-elect Donald Trump is rolling out his nominees for roles on his cabinet and other leadership positions at a record pace. Here are some observations about a handful of his picks so far: The obvious place to start is with Matt Gaetz. This one came out of left field. Say what you want about Merrick…
Continue ReadingUnpacking the Election Results
Opinions are like noses, everyone has one. I have no idea who coined that phrase, but it is certainly true. And it’s especially true after a major election. Trump winning both the electrical college and the popular vote came as a surprise to many. Now the interpretation of how this outcome happened and what it…
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