Just want to catch up a bit, taking a brief, respectful look at the current events of the week that was. Let’s face it; it’s hard to watch the news these days; there’s too much bias, too much sensationalism and too much disrespect. Hence, we’ll take a look, tee it up and keep it brief…
The tariffs… For decades, Donald Trump has supported tariffs as a means of boosting the U.S. economy. Now that he’s President, this week he announced their widespread implementation. It’s a risky economic strategy — including a 10% universal tariff across all imports in addition to targeted, retaliatory tariffs — but risky in that other countries have a say in what happens next. Do they respond with higher tariffs making all goods more expensive? Or do the tariffs create increased leverage for the U.S. in trade negotiations going forward?
There’s more to this than trade deficits. As Forbes headlined, “There’s more to it than most understand.” Forbes acknowledges that the national debt has expanded “as the trade deficit expands to a near-record level.” Also relevant is that in the year ahead, the U.S. will face a significant challenge with our debt, with approximately $9.2 trillion in debt maturing. While the Intramuralist concedes to being a part of Forbes’ “most,” there is thought that the leverage may be helpful in negotiating the refinancing necessary in early 2025.
Will this work? Respected economists disagree; it matters how other countries respond and how long the tariffs are in place. It’s too simplistic to craft either a pro/anti perspective based on how we feel about Trump. If the strategy sets off a trade war, that will hurt everyone. The reality is that we will have to wait until after the immediate to assess the long term impact.
The track meet… Memorial High School junior Austin Metcalf and Centennial High School junior Karmelo Anthony were competing in a morning track meet in Frisco, Texas. It was raining, and Anthony had thus taken cover under the other team’s canopy. A witness told police that Metcalf told Anthony to move. They argued. Anthony reportedly said, “Touch me and see what happens.” Metcalf touched him. The argument rapidly escalated. Metcalf touched him again, presumably more aggressively, and Anthony pulled a knife out of his bag, fatally stabbing Metcalf in the chest. Anthony has been charged with first-degree murder, with bond set at $1 million. According to an arrest report, he said, “I was protecting myself.”
In the days since, there has been much conversation, noting too, that they were students of varied race … How does this happen? … Can it be self-defense? … Can we please not politicize it? …
We politicize way too many things. The bottom line is this is sad. Two young men have had their lives forever altered in awful ways. God be with them and their families.
And lastly today…
Those who are talking now… Promotions began for three soon-to-be-released books by journalists, detailing the Biden presidency. As Politico’s Playbook opined, “The race to shape Joe Biden’s legacy is on.” The books include:
- “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House” by NBC’s Jonathan Allen and The Hill’s Amie Parnes, respectively a Democrat and non-partisan analyst
- “Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History” by Chris Whipple of the New York Times
- And “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson from Axios [According to Politico, this is “the book Biden allies fear the most.”]
Insights and excerpts were released last week, with Biden’s mental decline a paramount part of the story.
Key, though, is when these journalists knew what… Have they held this perspective before now? … Were they transparent about it on air, in their interviews and editorials? … Did they withhold information from us previously because it didn’t fit a desired narrative or outcome?… We want our reporters to be credible; we want to be able to believe what they say. No matter the station. No matter the circumstance.
All for now. Just being brief. And respectful always, too, of course.
Respectfully…
AR