I think that's a reasonable theory. Trump had rough experiences (i.e. was not obeyed) by Secretaries of Defense during his first term. He needs his personally loyal armed force because of that. Firing a lot of military leadership is also probably part of that.
Trump "backed away" from Project 2025, too, or at least that's what got earnestly reported. Reporters, at least in oligarch owned media, seem easily convinced by certain factions of politicians.
Certainly. I'm just pointing out that reporting on a regal president "joking" about a 3rd term is even more naive than the reporting on him disavowing Project 2025 was in 2024. Further, the reporting is generally more credulous when the topic is conservative issues.
Very clearly, there's zero reason to do what Trump's ICE is doing, house-to-house searches, violating first amendment rights, not following laws, shooting bystanders. Minnesota is not what Trump depicts. The reason is probably because Tim Walz ran against Trump in 2024.
What's the desired end point here? Just to prove that nobody can run against Trump? Trump will use his personally loyal security force to make any opponent's city a smoking crater? What does that get Trump, or his successor Republican? Why would anyone in any state where Trump cuts off already allocated federal spending vote for him ever again, much less why would Minnesota?
Almost certainly not. The first impeachment trial revealed that Trump's foreign policy was for his personal benefit. It's pretty obvious Trump has figured out that nations, corporations and oligarchs will pay him for favors. I think the dots are connectable.
Since there are no "red lines", the most important 25-30% of the voting population wouldn't mind, and oligarch owned media isn't going to show any outrage about this, I'm not optimistic about mid-terms even happening. I'm alson not optimistic about the dynastic succession. None of the princelings look to be wise rulers.
The cool thing about monarchies vs. democracies is that at least with monarchies sometimes you get a cool leader by random chance, whereas with democracies, the current power can always pay/muscle their ideal outcome. Might be 400 years till the next one but we'll have our enlightenment.
Wow, Trump is one powerful personality. Not only does he defeat and capture a socialist adversary, the opposition leader gives him her Peace Prize medal when Trump designates himself instead of her acting president! That's powerful.
The article suggests it's being absorbed by the importers and exporters rather than passed on to consumers
I've been told all my life that every jot and tittle of cost increase to firms will be passed on to The Consumers. What's different now, or was I being lied to?
It's a short-term strategy by businesses to try to weather the uncertainties around tariffs without losing customers, but absorbing the losses can't go on indefinitely and they absolutely will be passed on to consumers in the end.
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