Beau
@runningsignal.com
Backyard economist. Macro/micro coverage of the economy, trade, and technology.
Opinions here don't get etched in stone.
Opinions here don't get etched in stone.
Pinned
Beau
@runningsignal.com
· Dec 13
Water Always Finds a Way
Why trade is capitalism's substrate and damming it doesn't work
runningsignal.beehiiv.com
Trade isn't a policy choice. It's the substrate capitalism runs on. You can dam water temporarily, but it finds new channels. New piece on why protectionism runs counter to capitalism.
New piece:
Water Always Finds a Way
runningsignal.beehiiv.com/p/water-alwa...
New piece:
Water Always Finds a Way
runningsignal.beehiiv.com/p/water-alwa...
Reposted by Beau
"Without significant increases in UK food system and supply chain resilience, it is unlikely the UK would be able to maintain food security if ecosystem collapse drives geopolitical competition for food" - says Joint Intelligence Cttee. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#afnnetwork.bsky.social
#afnnetwork.bsky.social
Biodiversity collapse threatens UK security, intelligence chiefs warn
Ecosystem destruction will increase food shortages, disorder and mass migration, with effects already being felt
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:43 AM
"Without significant increases in UK food system and supply chain resilience, it is unlikely the UK would be able to maintain food security if ecosystem collapse drives geopolitical competition for food" - says Joint Intelligence Cttee. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#afnnetwork.bsky.social
#afnnetwork.bsky.social
More
Lutnick heckled in Davos. FT: “The gathering on Tuesday night descended into uproar after combative remarks from Lutnick, the people said, with widespread jeering, some guests walking out and appeals for calm from Fink.”
Howard Lutnick heckled at World Economic Forum dinner
Event hosted by Larry Fink descended into uproar after combative remarks from US commerce secretary
www.ft.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:10 AM
More
There is enough to dislike about Americans than leaping to an idea we all support this government.
I’m glad many of you do not have to endure this shit.
I’m glad many of you do not have to endure this shit.
Apparently some people have been wondering lately about whether it's OK to despise Americans as a group because of the actions of their government, and I'm going to stick my neck out and say no that is not OK
January 21, 2026 at 11:07 AM
There is enough to dislike about Americans than leaping to an idea we all support this government.
I’m glad many of you do not have to endure this shit.
I’m glad many of you do not have to endure this shit.
Tryna eat all the crumbs left in the chip bag
January 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Tryna eat all the crumbs left in the chip bag
How soon until we get our first mall?
Amazon is launching its largest ever retail store, planning a new property in the Chicago suburbs with a footprint big enough to squash the average Walmart.
Amazon Joins the Big-Box League With Its Largest-Ever Store
The e-commerce giant is launching a megastore outside of Chicago that will be big enough to nearly fit two Target stores.
on.wsj.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:57 AM
How soon until we get our first mall?
No one trusts government data these days but you want me to believe threads is gaining more users than any other site?
January 21, 2026 at 3:40 AM
No one trusts government data these days but you want me to believe threads is gaining more users than any other site?
Ate a Swiss Cake Roll before bed to show my solidarity with the EU today.
January 21, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Ate a Swiss Cake Roll before bed to show my solidarity with the EU today.
We’ve had live skeets of a National Championship, a rogue public bus driver and a SWAT team operation in the last 24 hours. BlueSky has the juice.
January 21, 2026 at 2:08 AM
We’ve had live skeets of a National Championship, a rogue public bus driver and a SWAT team operation in the last 24 hours. BlueSky has the juice.
Reposted by Beau
The U.S. military announced aircraft would soon arrive at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, while stressing it is part of a "long-planned" exercise.
US, European nations send troops to Greenland. Is a takeover coming?
The U.S. military announced aircraft would soon arrive at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, while stressing it is part of a "long-planned" exercise.
bit.ly
January 21, 2026 at 2:00 AM
The U.S. military announced aircraft would soon arrive at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, while stressing it is part of a "long-planned" exercise.
McDaniels to the Chargers avoids one hire I was hoping the Bills would avoid. Did not see good news coming out of the locker room in Miami.
January 21, 2026 at 2:01 AM
McDaniels to the Chargers avoids one hire I was hoping the Bills would avoid. Did not see good news coming out of the locker room in Miami.
Baseball and bigotry are America’s pastimes
Using public voter files, Peter Lutz takes a first-of-its-kind look at partisan registration among pro athletes by league.
January 21, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Baseball and bigotry are America’s pastimes
Reposted by Beau
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
January 20, 2026 at 10:53 PM
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
For all the stupidity that exists today I’m certain there are some truly smart and villainous people in power in the West who recognize this advancing future and are putting up fences for when greater displacements begin because of climate change.
They turn around and tell you it doesn’t exist.
They turn around and tell you it doesn’t exist.
UN report declares global state of 'water bankruptcy'
The world is entering an era of "global water bankruptcy" with rivers, lakes and aquifers depleting faster than nature can replenish them
u.afp.com/SBpT
The world is entering an era of "global water bankruptcy" with rivers, lakes and aquifers depleting faster than nature can replenish them
u.afp.com/SBpT
January 21, 2026 at 1:44 AM
For all the stupidity that exists today I’m certain there are some truly smart and villainous people in power in the West who recognize this advancing future and are putting up fences for when greater displacements begin because of climate change.
They turn around and tell you it doesn’t exist.
They turn around and tell you it doesn’t exist.
A lot of hair comments so far but this one made me snort a little
Maybe he can empower a comb
January 21, 2026 at 1:24 AM
A lot of hair comments so far but this one made me snort a little
America’s greatest export: Inflation
GS US Trimmed Core PCE moving closer to 2%
Actually a bit lower vs Euro Area
Actually a bit lower vs Euro Area
January 21, 2026 at 1:11 AM
America’s greatest export: Inflation
This is so funny after the incessant ads from Palantir about empowering, not replacing the American worker.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Palantir CEO Says AI to Make Large-Scale Immigration Obsolete
Artificial intelligence will displace so many jobs that it will eliminate the need for mass immigration, according to Palantir Technologies Inc. Chief Executive Officer Alex Karp.
www.bloomberg.com
January 21, 2026 at 1:04 AM
This is so funny after the incessant ads from Palantir about empowering, not replacing the American worker.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Not here to watch the world burn but I am giddy to see drawdowns on the highest levels of wealth at multiples what they’d have to forgo if they just took a small bump in damn taxes.
January 21, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Not here to watch the world burn but I am giddy to see drawdowns on the highest levels of wealth at multiples what they’d have to forgo if they just took a small bump in damn taxes.
Reposted by Beau
This breaks my heart!
I have no words for this:
“The goalkeeper told me I’m an illegal immigrant even though I was born in America, and he said Trump was gonna get me and send me back.”
How is destroying the spirit of our children making this country great?
Who will repair their trauma when this is over?
Sickening.
“The goalkeeper told me I’m an illegal immigrant even though I was born in America, and he said Trump was gonna get me and send me back.”
How is destroying the spirit of our children making this country great?
Who will repair their trauma when this is over?
Sickening.
January 21, 2026 at 12:47 AM
This breaks my heart!
If you talk to enough people in over 60 you’ll find many will trip over themselves to tell you how their lives were ruined being bussed to other parts of town because of redistricting and integration.
Every couple of months I check my mentions over at the White Nationalist CSAM Clearinghouse and hoo boy this is gold.
A racist crypto bro with a blue check? Perfection.
A racist crypto bro with a blue check? Perfection.
January 21, 2026 at 12:45 AM
If you talk to enough people in over 60 you’ll find many will trip over themselves to tell you how their lives were ruined being bussed to other parts of town because of redistricting and integration.
It is really wild to have a position that vilifies investors in favor of slumlords who think it their god given right to receive passive income.
Bessent: "Someone, maybe your parents for their retirement have bought 5, 10, 12 homes."
January 21, 2026 at 12:19 AM
It is really wild to have a position that vilifies investors in favor of slumlords who think it their god given right to receive passive income.
Reposted by Beau
U.S. Forces Seize Seventh Venezuela-Linked Tanker — U.S. Southern Command said military forces boarded and apprehended the Motor Vessel Sagitta without incident, marking the seventh seizure of a tanker tied to Venezuela amid expanded sanctions enforcement. The action underscores the…
U.S. Forces Seize Seventh Venezuela-Linked Tanker
www.pbs.org
January 21, 2026 at 12:01 AM
U.S. Forces Seize Seventh Venezuela-Linked Tanker — U.S. Southern Command said military forces boarded and apprehended the Motor Vessel Sagitta without incident, marking the seventh seizure of a tanker tied to Venezuela amid expanded sanctions enforcement. The action underscores the…
Reposted by Beau
I'm not a young man. I've been watching the weather for 50+ years. This may be the most significant winter storm I've seen.
January 20, 2026 at 9:49 PM
I'm not a young man. I've been watching the weather for 50+ years. This may be the most significant winter storm I've seen.
Reposted by Beau
We call this an abusive husband
trump getting his feelings hurt by european leaders is the culmination of this new type of guy that emerged in the last decade or so: guy who goes out of his way to be a huge asshole who then gets really offended when the people he's being an asshole to don't like him
January 20, 2026 at 9:58 PM
We call this an abusive husband