If At First You Don't Succeed...

 

Friends, the Big Apple, which has been staring imminent Mamdani-fication in the face for the last several weeks, just got another sobering piece of news: Andrew Cuomo is doublng down on his bid for the mayoralty!  This sets up a fascinating, high stakes clash between the progressive and "moderate" wings of the Democratic Party.  Let us hope that this internecine quarrel becomes increasingly ruthless and brutal, and that the Left, by the end of it, becomes a house divided, never again to reunite!  That's an optimistic reading of the situation, I'll admit, but I've always believed that the only permanent way to liberate America from the danger of Democratic/progressive rule is to split the movement into smaller, unviable factions.  Thanks to Emperor Andy, we're one step closer.

 

https://x.com/andrewcuomo/status/1944829573222338765 

America First Means Americans First

 

Friends, I found some of the statistics in this piece quite eye-opening.  In a nutshell, under Biden, the vast majority of new jobs went to immigrants and "migrants", i.e. immigrants who decided they didn't feel like waiting in line or filling out any forms.  Under Trump, it's American-born workers who are getting the benefit of new job opportunities, and who are enjoying lower inflation and steady wage gains to boot.  Isn't that how prosperity ought to be defined, at the end of the day?  Shouldn't it benefit primarily those of us who already live here, and shouldn't we be allowing in new people ONLY when doing so enhances liberty and the standard of living for all?  Seems to me like Trump is finally getting some of these economic fundamentals right.  Bully for Trump!!!

 

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/07/13/winning-jobs-gains-going-to-native-born-americans-wage-gains-outpacing-inflation/ 

Crushing It!

 

Friends, this week's Newsmakers show basks in the reflective glory of some of DJT's big wins of late, including the Supreme Court's decisions abolishing universal injunctions and upholding the president's power to hire and fire executive branch employees.  Long story short: the ability of leftist judges to stymie the wishes of the American people, expressed via that great big presidential election we had not long ago, has been dramatically and probably permanently curtailed.  Hooray!  Brian and I also discuss Trump's growing frustrations with Russia, which adamantly refuses to make peace with Ukraine; Trump's tariff threats vis-a-vis Brazil; the prospects for "green energy" in Trump's second term; where we stand with the once famous "Yankee work ethic"; the mixed messages sent by the retirement of North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis; and more!  You won't want to miss this action-packed episode of your favorite talk show, starring ME!

 

https://wysl.podbean.com/e/newsmakers-7-12-25/ 

 

In other news, we're learning more about what caused that Air India flight to crash in Ahmedabad recently.  Apparently, both fuel cut off switches were activated shortly after takeoff, starving both engines of, well, fuel, and thus thrust.  The pilots just didn't have enough time to recover.  Did one of the pilots intentionally flip those switches?  Did he do it by accident?  Or did a mechanical fault trip the switches without any action from the pilots?  Hopefully, the investigation will get to the bottom of this mystery.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2gy78gpnqo 

It's the Best of Times, It's Not the Worst of Times

 

Friends, as the Dow, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq notch record high after record high, we face a seeming contradiction: the legacy media loves reporting doom and gloom about the economy, and especially about tariffs, which Democrats and leftists lap up and believe implicitly, so how do the major indices keep going up up up?  It defies common sense.  

 

These surveys help to explain matters.  It's not that the American people have a unanimously positive impression of the state of the economy -- far from it -- but they do feel better about it now than arguably at any time since the onset of the COVID pandemic.  That's a good thing!!!  It also begs the question: how buoyant would the markets be, and how high would our growth rates go, if this economy wasn't weighed down by the mainstream media's bellyaching?  God willing, someday we may find out.

 

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2025/07/11/breitbart-business-digest-american-economic-optimism-rises-to-highest-levels-in-years/ 

Tariffing Tyrants

 

Friends, President Trump loves to threaten other countries with tariffs, and usually these threats have something to do with opening access to their markets to American exporters and/or protecting American jobs.  Well, today DJT declared that he would levy a 50% tariff on Brazil, and his reasons had nothing to do with U.S. economic interests.  His purpose is to defend U.S. social media companies from Brazilian laws and court decisions that effectively force them to practice censorship, AND to protest against the kangaroo court that is now holding former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro in judgement.  Trump and Bolsonaro were close allies before the latter lost his reelection bid and was promptly railroaded by the very aggressive and very leftist courts in Brazil.  Trump is right that what Brazil is doing is outrageous, but are tariffs the best response to what amounts to an overseas version of lawfare?  Wouldn't sanctions make more sense?  It's starting to seem like tariffs, or the threat of tariffs, are Trump's "go to" solution to every international problem.  He's also in some danger of becoming known as the Boy Who Cried Tariffs...  Don't get me wrong: I would love to see Brazil's socialist oppressors held to account, but I'm not sure that tariffs are the best lever to pull, in this particular case.  What are your thoughts?

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c784ee81y4zo 

Tariffs Make Wonderful Conversation Starters

 

Friends, the threat and/or the reality of reciprocal tariffs has motivated dozens of countries to come to the negotiating table to work out a new trading relationship with Trump's America.  Already, the U.K., China, and Vietnam have come to terms with us...terms that are much more favorable than the ones that Biden and Co. accepted as a matter of course.  Now, the deadline for reaching an agreement applying to other countries has been extended until August 1, while the potential consequences of failing to do so have been outlined by none other than DJT himself.  Expect, in short, more progress in the days and weeks ahead!  Some countries will get hammered by new, punitive tariffs, no doubt, but that's necessary to keep the rest of the world honest.  Kudos to President Trump for fighting the good fight on our behalf!

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd0vkl31085o 

 

In other news, SCOTUS's abolition of "universal injunctions" is an extremely positive first step in reining in activist judges, but it may not be enough, in itself.  Powerful tools still remain in the hands of the unscrupulous lawyers and politicians who wish to make trouble for the Trump Administration, and to protect the Deep State from meaningful reforms.  In short, SCOTUS may need to go further, or Congress may need to act, to permanently remove leftist judges' ability to obstruct executive action.

 

https://thefederalist.com/2025/07/07/scotus-ruling-against-universal-injunctions-didnt-go-far-enough/ 

To the Moon, Alice! Or Mars. Possibly Earth.

 

Friends, Elon Musk is making his divorce from DJT semi-official by announcing that he's forming a new political party: the "America Party", meant to challenge the monopoly of the Republicans AND the Democrats.  My guess is it will be hard going, because, given recent developments, Musk isn't beloved by progressives or conservatives.  Of course, there are plenty of centrists who are sick and tired of the GOP and the Demon-crats, so forming a third party may not be a complete waste of time, but it's likely to play the role of "spoiler", if indeed it has any impact at all.  If you ask me, such a party is more likely to help the Republicans than it is to help the Democrats, because it will effectively split the anti-Trump vote.  Anyway, what will the party stand for?  If the answer is fiscal sanity, then I might at least tip my hat to those Elonicans myself.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1dn04lvgpdo 

Oh, Happy Day!

 

Friends, Happy 4th of July!!!  Our country is 249 years old, and doesn't look a day over 227, if you ask me.  Next year we'll be celebrating 250 years of liberty and awesomeness, and in many ways the festivities are already underway, led by YOU KNOW WHO, El Presidente, Donald J. Trump.  Almost half the country believes implicitly that Trump's America is about to implode, and yet, to you and me, things are looking up!  The economy is strong, our border is secure, the judiciary has been reined in, the legacy media and higher ed are cowed, at least to a point, and most men and women seem to know (roughly) what gender they are.  Are these the best of times?  Well, let's not jump to that conclusion, but there's reason to believe that 'Merica has a bit of life left in her, and that's something.  President Trump will, of course, sign the Big, Beautiful Bill into law today.  There are countless upsides, and we must hope that these positive reforms produce a massive surge in economic growth.  Frankly, technological advancements, like A.I., may do that anyway, but a pro-growth federal government that actively protects American jobs and insists on American access to foreign markets doesn't hurt any.  So God Bless America, and God Bless YOU!!!

 

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/07/04/18-big-beautiful-trump-victories-as-america-celebrates-independence-day/ 

Big Beautiful Monstrosity?

 

Friends, today the big, beautiful bill cleared a major hurdle: it won passage in the U.S. Senate.  Now the onus is on House Republicans, who of course don't have many votes to spare...  I have mixed feelings.  The bill contains many elements that will boost the economy, but it's also very costly, and won't in any way advance the cause of fiscal conservatism.  In fact, to twist enough senatorial arms to pass it, it was made even more costly, which is no surprise to anyone vaguely acquainted with how politics works.  Elon Musk is as outspoken as ever about the bill's detractions, and Trump has retaliated by once again drawing attention to the federal contracts and subsidies that Musk's businesses rely on, and suggesting that DOGE might want to target them for cancellation.  Long story short: the passage of the big, beautiful bill is a big political win for Trump, because he has invested so much capital, as it were, in promoting it.  Is it, however, a win for the country?  I could go either way on that question.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyzzzdj15vo 

 

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114776149269773065 

Another One Bites the Dust

 

Friends, plenty of Republicans have stood up to Trump, but not all that many have lived (politically) to tell about it.  It's becoming harder and harder for GOP Congressmen and Senators to defy DJT, and maybe that's a good thing, because neither party can accomplish much unless it can preserve a measure of discipline in its ranks.  The problem, however, is that, when men like Tillis decide to retire, they become even more unreliable in the days, weeks, months, and years before their official departure from Congress.  Even worse, said departure creates an open seat, i.e. a pickup opportunity for Democrats.  You better believe the dastardly Dems are salivating at the vacancy in NC that Tillis just created.  Those are the breaks, at any rate, and now Republicans need to search for a strong, Trumpy Republican to carry their banner in the Tar Heel State in 2026.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c628vd100pro 

 

In other news, Javier Milei, Argentina's president, is proving that conservative populism can be combined with fiscal discipline.  He's slashed public spending, and the Argentine people seem to appreciate the results: a booming economy and low inflation.  Could a similar miracle happen here?  Not any time soon, if the "big, beautiful bill" is any indication.  Fiscal austerity isn't on Trump's agenda.  Of course, now that "universal injunctions" have been banned, DOGE might be unleashed as never before, and that could help matters.

 

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/argentina-onward/