On Trump and Tariffs

Best description of Trump's tariff talk on the internet today.

Guest Contribution: “Trump threatens tariffs against a BRICs chimera”

The threat of 100% tariffs comes on top of Trump threats of 25% tariffs against Mexico and Canada, if they don’t stop the smuggling of fentanyl into the US, which in turn follows his threats of 60% tariffs against China and 10 % or 20% for all other trading partners, whether the US has signed a free trade agreement with them or not.  Trump’s tariff threats begin to look like a madman wildly brandishing of a gun in the street. It persuades passersby to make wide circles around him but does not lead to one of Trump’s self-described successful “transactions.”

 

Kakistocracy

Lawfare: The Constitution of Kakistocracy

Trump's nominations represent an unprecedented triple assault on constitutional appointment norms: First, many are unqualified or hostile to their agencies' missions. Second, rather than making a few controversial picks, Trump has flooded the zone, nominating an entire slate of problematic candidates that burdens the Senate's capacity for proper vetting. And third, Trump has signaled willingness to circumvent the confirmation process through legally dubious tactics such as forced Senate adjournment. Together, these moves threaten to transform the appointments process from a constitutional safeguard into a vehicle for installing loyalists regardless of competence.

Oligarchy

Where do Musk and Trump stand after that spectacle? 

If there were any hurt feelings between Trump and Musk, it was not apparent in the immediate aftermath. On Wednesday night, Musk joined Trump at a dinner with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on the patio of Mar-a-Lago.

 

More on our oligarchy from Ian Welsh

Elon Musk Threatens Congress Successfully

 

Money is Power

Trump using "AIPAC-like" threats to get his way. 

Congress in disarray and shutdown looms as Trump, Musk slam spending deal

In posts on his social media site, Truth Social, Trump threatened to help unseat "any Republican that would be so stupid as to" vote in favour of the current version of the bill, which was unveiled on Tuesday by House and Senate leaders.

Trump and the Middle East

Like the last middle east peace deal he worked out?

 Middle East 'mega-deal': Trump envoy Witkoff meets MBS in Saudi visit

"I want a long-lasting peace. I'm not saying that's a very likely scenario ... I want a peace where we don't have an October 7 in another three years. I'd like to see everybody be happy," Trump told Time magazine earlier this week.

Occupation

Would anyone like to bet on whether Israel will ever leave that Syrian mountain top?

Why Israel captured Syria’s tallest mountain just hours after Assad fell

The summit of Mount Hermon lies in Syria, in a buffer zone that separated Israeli and Syrian forces for fifty years until last weekend, when Israeli troops took control of it. Until Sunday, the summit was demilitarized and patrolled by UN peacekeepers – their highest permanent position in the world. 

Weekly Reader

The always good Jeffrey St. Clair's Roaming Charges.

This week's Roaming Charges: All a Friend Can Say is, “Ain’t It a Shame?”

Propaganda - Fox News

Here's a propaganda headline for the ages.

Main headline foxnews.com 2024.12.11 8:34am edt

Yeah, right, ObamaCare fine print drove him over the edge.

Fuck Fox News.

Israel vs Everyone

A helluva way to welcome your new neighbors.

Syrians celebrate fall of Assad as Israel strikes nearly 500 targets - CNN: Live Updates: 2024-12-11

also,  Why is Israel attacking Syria?    

Because they can?

Common Goods

A good post on social media as a common good.

Repairing the public sphere

from the always good Stumbling and Mumbling.