Reposted by BG
Massie: Previous presidents told us to go to war over WMDs that did not exist. Now it's the same playbook. Except we're told that drugs are the WMDs. If it were about drugs, we'd bomb Mexico or China or Colombia. This is about oil and regime change.
December 17, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Massie: Previous presidents told us to go to war over WMDs that did not exist. Now it's the same playbook. Except we're told that drugs are the WMDs. If it were about drugs, we'd bomb Mexico or China or Colombia. This is about oil and regime change.
Reposted by BG
Adding sailors and mariners to this list. Our lives depend on good marine forecasts. This is so sad.
This is not an exaggeration:
There is not a single weather forecaster, TV meteorologist, airline pilot, computer scientist, or climate scientist in the WORLD whose work or life wasn't directly or indirectly improved or influenced by the science done at NCAR.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
There is not a single weather forecaster, TV meteorologist, airline pilot, computer scientist, or climate scientist in the WORLD whose work or life wasn't directly or indirectly improved or influenced by the science done at NCAR.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
www.usatoday.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Adding sailors and mariners to this list. Our lives depend on good marine forecasts. This is so sad.
Reposted by BG
This is wild!
You know the Vanity Fair article with Susie Wiles that everyone’s talking about?
Yeah. This is basically the audio version Narrated by Nicolle Wallace, and it’s not “taken out of context”. ☠️😭
You know the Vanity Fair article with Susie Wiles that everyone’s talking about?
Yeah. This is basically the audio version Narrated by Nicolle Wallace, and it’s not “taken out of context”. ☠️😭
December 17, 2025 at 3:07 AM
This is wild!
You know the Vanity Fair article with Susie Wiles that everyone’s talking about?
Yeah. This is basically the audio version Narrated by Nicolle Wallace, and it’s not “taken out of context”. ☠️😭
You know the Vanity Fair article with Susie Wiles that everyone’s talking about?
Yeah. This is basically the audio version Narrated by Nicolle Wallace, and it’s not “taken out of context”. ☠️😭
Reposted by BG
Excuse me, WUT!
You don’t give a “shockingly candid” interview ripping your own administration and then act surprised when people quote you. That’s not a media problem. That’s a foresight problem.
You don’t give a “shockingly candid” interview ripping your own administration and then act surprised when people quote you. That’s not a media problem. That’s a foresight problem.
December 16, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Excuse me, WUT!
You don’t give a “shockingly candid” interview ripping your own administration and then act surprised when people quote you. That’s not a media problem. That’s a foresight problem.
You don’t give a “shockingly candid” interview ripping your own administration and then act surprised when people quote you. That’s not a media problem. That’s a foresight problem.
Reposted by BG
Trump: "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled ... It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the USA all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."
December 16, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Trump: "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled ... It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the USA all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."
Reposted by BG
The Trump Administration is unlawfully withholding funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — investments Congress APPROVED to build America's EV charging network, reduce pollution, and create good-paying jobs.
We won't stand for it, and we will be taking this to court.
We won't stand for it, and we will be taking this to court.
Together with @governor.ca.gov, Caltrans and the California Energy Commission, we’re suing the Trump Admin for unlawfully suspending two electric vehicle charging infrastructure grant programs that would reduce pollution, expand access to clean vehicles, and create thousands of green jobs.
December 16, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The Trump Administration is unlawfully withholding funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — investments Congress APPROVED to build America's EV charging network, reduce pollution, and create good-paying jobs.
We won't stand for it, and we will be taking this to court.
We won't stand for it, and we will be taking this to court.
Reposted by BG
McGovern: If by “concepts of a plan” you meant screwing millions of people over—including millions who voted Republican in the last election—I think you’ve accomplished your goal.
December 16, 2025 at 8:51 PM
McGovern: If by “concepts of a plan” you meant screwing millions of people over—including millions who voted Republican in the last election—I think you’ve accomplished your goal.
Reposted by BG
A Few Good Men. Best in Show. A Mighty Wind. Miss Congeniality. Barcelona. All three movies in Linklater's "Before" trilogy. Music & Lyrics. Michael Clayton. All films that were able to be made because of the production company Reiner co-founded in order to give talented filmmakers creative freedom.
without Rob Reiner’s Castle Rock production company we wouldn’t have:
City Slickers, Honeymoon in Vegas, In the Line of Fire, The Shawshank Redemption, Before Sunrise, Dolores Claiborne, Lone Star, Waiting for Guffman, and more - in a six-year period alone
City Slickers, Honeymoon in Vegas, In the Line of Fire, The Shawshank Redemption, Before Sunrise, Dolores Claiborne, Lone Star, Waiting for Guffman, and more - in a six-year period alone
December 15, 2025 at 6:31 AM
A Few Good Men. Best in Show. A Mighty Wind. Miss Congeniality. Barcelona. All three movies in Linklater's "Before" trilogy. Music & Lyrics. Michael Clayton. All films that were able to be made because of the production company Reiner co-founded in order to give talented filmmakers creative freedom.
Reposted by BG
To those thinking Russia is winning in Ukraine:
Imagine if when we invaded Iraq, we were almost four years into it, only occupied 20 percent, and lost a million men.
Not a soul would call that “winning.”
Imagine if when we invaded Iraq, we were almost four years into it, only occupied 20 percent, and lost a million men.
Not a soul would call that “winning.”
December 16, 2025 at 1:16 AM
To those thinking Russia is winning in Ukraine:
Imagine if when we invaded Iraq, we were almost four years into it, only occupied 20 percent, and lost a million men.
Not a soul would call that “winning.”
Imagine if when we invaded Iraq, we were almost four years into it, only occupied 20 percent, and lost a million men.
Not a soul would call that “winning.”
Reposted by BG
Arizona, the model for voucher programs across the country, spent so much money paying private schoolers’ tuition that it faced hundreds of millions in budget cuts to critical state programs and projects last year.
(Published July 2024)
(Published July 2024)
School Vouchers Were Supposed to Save Taxpayer Money. Instead They Blew a Massive Hole in Arizona’s Budget.
Arizona, the model for voucher programs across the country, has spent so much money paying private schoolers’ tuition that it’s now facing hundreds of millions in budget cuts to critical state program...
www.propublica.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Arizona, the model for voucher programs across the country, spent so much money paying private schoolers’ tuition that it faced hundreds of millions in budget cuts to critical state programs and projects last year.
(Published July 2024)
(Published July 2024)
Reposted by BG
This was also my take-away from the Sept jobs print. If payroll prints are trending down only because of labor supply (immigration) the unemployment rate should be trending down or steady, not heading up. Unemployment up means demand is slackening more than supply
*WILLIAMS: DATA SHOW LABOR DEMAND HAS SOFTENED MORE THAN SUPPLY
*WILLIAMS: DOWNSIDE EMPLOYMENT RISKS HAVE RISEN IN RECENT MONTHS
*WILLIAMS: MUST HIT 2% INFLATION WITHOUT CAUSING UNDUE JOBS RISK
*WILLIAMS: DOWNSIDE EMPLOYMENT RISKS HAVE RISEN IN RECENT MONTHS
*WILLIAMS: MUST HIT 2% INFLATION WITHOUT CAUSING UNDUE JOBS RISK
December 15, 2025 at 4:15 PM
This was also my take-away from the Sept jobs print. If payroll prints are trending down only because of labor supply (immigration) the unemployment rate should be trending down or steady, not heading up. Unemployment up means demand is slackening more than supply
Reposted by BG
Confess I had not thought through the implications of no data collection in Oct. for Nov.'s jobs report until I read BLS's FAQ.
1)CPS is a panel. No collection in Oct means no new respondents initiated into the survey, and so many more need to be added in Nov.
2)above clearly has implications for
1)CPS is a panel. No collection in Oct means no new respondents initiated into the survey, and so many more need to be added in Nov.
2)above clearly has implications for
Can't actually find this on the BLS site, suggests we should be cautious on HH survey numbers (eg unemp rate) until '26
*BLS POSTS FAQ ON NOV. HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYMENT SURVEY
*BLS: NOV. HOUSEHOLD SURVEY HAS SLIGHTLY LARGER STANDARD ERROR
*BLS HOUSEHOLD POLL'S HIGHER STANDARD ERRORS MAY LAST A FEW MOS.
*BLS POSTS FAQ ON NOV. HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYMENT SURVEY
*BLS: NOV. HOUSEHOLD SURVEY HAS SLIGHTLY LARGER STANDARD ERROR
*BLS HOUSEHOLD POLL'S HIGHER STANDARD ERRORS MAY LAST A FEW MOS.
December 15, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Confess I had not thought through the implications of no data collection in Oct. for Nov.'s jobs report until I read BLS's FAQ.
1)CPS is a panel. No collection in Oct means no new respondents initiated into the survey, and so many more need to be added in Nov.
2)above clearly has implications for
1)CPS is a panel. No collection in Oct means no new respondents initiated into the survey, and so many more need to be added in Nov.
2)above clearly has implications for
Reposted by BG
As a GOP activist, Harmeet Dhillon frequently insisted that the federal government has “little to say” about how states run their elections. Now, as head of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), she claims the feds have “sweeping” authority to seize state voter rolls.
Harmeet Dhillon Was an Outspoken Advocate for the Right of States to Run Elections. Then She Took a Top Job at Trump’s DOJ
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:13 PM
As a GOP activist, Harmeet Dhillon frequently insisted that the federal government has “little to say” about how states run their elections. Now, as head of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), she claims the feds have “sweeping” authority to seize state voter rolls.
Reposted by BG
I'm just gonna say here that this is a head fake -- Hassett's the guy goin' away
Something markets are not going to like: Trump tells WSJ he’s leaning toward Hassett or Warsh for Fed chair. Both men raise concern among many observers over credibility, competence and independence.
Trump Says He Is Leaning Toward Warsh or Hassett to Lead the Fed — The Wall Street Journal
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said the next Fed chair should consult with him on interest rates
apple.news
December 12, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I'm just gonna say here that this is a head fake -- Hassett's the guy goin' away
Reposted by BG
Staffing is down ~25% at BLS due to DOGE/DRP and the hiring freeze. But this impacts price programs (largely collected by BLS feds) more than jobs.
CPS (household data in the jobs report) is collected by Census field staff. They are down staff too but have been prioritizing economic indicators.
CPS (household data in the jobs report) is collected by Census field staff. They are down staff too but have been prioritizing economic indicators.
We were already down 25% on staffing at @BLS_gov due to layoffs ahead of shutdown. The effort to catch up means we will not get a clean read on the labor market until December.
Some things to watch for:
October 1 we had 151K federal workers who took earlier buyouts fall from the federal payrolls
Some things to watch for:
October 1 we had 151K federal workers who took earlier buyouts fall from the federal payrolls
December 12, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Staffing is down ~25% at BLS due to DOGE/DRP and the hiring freeze. But this impacts price programs (largely collected by BLS feds) more than jobs.
CPS (household data in the jobs report) is collected by Census field staff. They are down staff too but have been prioritizing economic indicators.
CPS (household data in the jobs report) is collected by Census field staff. They are down staff too but have been prioritizing economic indicators.
Reposted by BG
A nice thread from Guy on JP's comments yesterday on NFP growth being overstated.
To which I will add a caveat - the birth/death model is not the principal driver of the wedge between CES and QCEW these last two years.
(Warning, statistical esoterica ahead) 🧵1/9
To which I will add a caveat - the birth/death model is not the principal driver of the wedge between CES and QCEW these last two years.
(Warning, statistical esoterica ahead) 🧵1/9
An explainer for Fed Chair Powell's comment about nonfarm payroll growth being overstated, which IMHO is being blown out of proportion:
1/ In yesterday's press conference, Powell said there is an overcount of ~60K/month in NFP, which has set off a new round of hyperventilation.
1/ In yesterday's press conference, Powell said there is an overcount of ~60K/month in NFP, which has set off a new round of hyperventilation.
December 11, 2025 at 7:17 PM
A nice thread from Guy on JP's comments yesterday on NFP growth being overstated.
To which I will add a caveat - the birth/death model is not the principal driver of the wedge between CES and QCEW these last two years.
(Warning, statistical esoterica ahead) 🧵1/9
To which I will add a caveat - the birth/death model is not the principal driver of the wedge between CES and QCEW these last two years.
(Warning, statistical esoterica ahead) 🧵1/9
Reposted by BG
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara to US citizen detained by ICE: "I apologize that this happened to you in my city with people wearing vests that say 'police.' That's embarrassing."
December 11, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara to US citizen detained by ICE: "I apologize that this happened to you in my city with people wearing vests that say 'police.' That's embarrassing."
Reposted by BG
Reposted by BG
BREAKING: Alina Habba is finally stepping down from her role as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey after the Third Circuit affirmed her disqualification
December 8, 2025 at 6:53 PM
BREAKING: Alina Habba is finally stepping down from her role as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey after the Third Circuit affirmed her disqualification
Reposted by BG
Duffy on what he's doing to improve the airport experience for travelers: "Maybe I want a workout area where people might get some blood flowing doing some pull ups or step ups in the airport."
December 8, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Duffy on what he's doing to improve the airport experience for travelers: "Maybe I want a workout area where people might get some blood flowing doing some pull ups or step ups in the airport."
Reposted by BG
Fired FBI agents file lawsuit against FBI director Kash Patel and DOJ, alleging unlawful retaliation
www.cbsnews.com/news/fired-f...
www.cbsnews.com/news/fired-f...
Fired FBI agents file lawsuit against FBI director Kash Patel and DOJ, alleging unlawful retaliation
Ex-FBI agents are trying to get their jobs back, claiming they were fired during Trump's second term for their efforts in 2020 to head off a riot in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
www.cbsnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Fired FBI agents file lawsuit against FBI director Kash Patel and DOJ, alleging unlawful retaliation
www.cbsnews.com/news/fired-f...
www.cbsnews.com/news/fired-f...
Reposted by BG
Reader, he is, in fact, making this stuff up
Kudlow is just lying to his viewers: "Unemployment is at rock bottom. These are real facts. I'm not making this stuff up. Unemployment claims are as low as they're ever going to get."
December 8, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Reader, he is, in fact, making this stuff up
Reposted by BG
Saudi Arabia is easing its rules on alcohol for non Muslim foreign residents who earn at least 50000 riyals per month, roughly $13300. Then they get to buy alcohol, Bloomberg reports.
Money comes first.
Money comes first.
December 8, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Saudi Arabia is easing its rules on alcohol for non Muslim foreign residents who earn at least 50000 riyals per month, roughly $13300. Then they get to buy alcohol, Bloomberg reports.
Money comes first.
Money comes first.
Reposted by BG
What Senator Cotton says here would be a bad defense for the Germans convicted in WWI and WWII war crimes trials -- including for firing on shipwrecked in fully operational lifeboats.
This line of response hurts the US and US servicemembers. It will cause long-term damage unless we get this right.
This line of response hurts the US and US servicemembers. It will cause long-term damage unless we get this right.
WELKER: Lawmakers say the 2 men appeared to raise their arms potentially to surrender. Why did Admiral Bradley interpret these actions as anything other than them trying to survive?
TOM COTTON: They were sitting or standing on top of a capsized boat. They weren't floating helplessly in the water
TOM COTTON: They were sitting or standing on top of a capsized boat. They weren't floating helplessly in the water
December 7, 2025 at 4:10 PM
What Senator Cotton says here would be a bad defense for the Germans convicted in WWI and WWII war crimes trials -- including for firing on shipwrecked in fully operational lifeboats.
This line of response hurts the US and US servicemembers. It will cause long-term damage unless we get this right.
This line of response hurts the US and US servicemembers. It will cause long-term damage unless we get this right.
Reposted by BG
REPORTER: Could you imagine receiving a Kennedy Center honor next year?
TRUMP: Yeah, I think I'm going to nominate myself for next year
TRUMP: Yeah, I think I'm going to nominate myself for next year
December 7, 2025 at 11:42 PM
REPORTER: Could you imagine receiving a Kennedy Center honor next year?
TRUMP: Yeah, I think I'm going to nominate myself for next year
TRUMP: Yeah, I think I'm going to nominate myself for next year