38 Comments
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Ian Huntington's avatar

Thank you for this explanation of insanity.

Also, thank you for allowing free subscribers to leave comments.

If you are planning a run for congress, you have my vote.

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DK Brooklyn's avatar

National Security is bipartisan.

MAKE AMERICA SECURE AGAIN

don’t let what we learned from the Signal fiasco about our National Security be minimized as a scandal. It showed us how dangerous our leadership is for all Americans.

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Sharon's avatar

The broke the law and should be punished for it.

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Shame On ‘em's avatar

Yes I appreciate being able to comment and get things off my chest as well.

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Ermila Garza's avatar

Me too, Michael, what a surprise that would be if you ran for congress!!! We need people like you, Ben Meiselas and the rest of MTN!!

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AAA M's avatar

I, too, thank you Michael and yes, please DO RUN FOR CONGRESS. I would even say.....RUN FOR PRESIDENT, although I probably won't be here for that because of

my age of 89.

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Jungle Pyramid Washer's avatar

You don’t understand what’s happening Michael. The tariffs are a grift. The money coming in is being stolen. Here you go:

Like any government revenue, tariffs collected can be misused or diverted through fraudulent means. Some common ways this can happen include:

1. Corrupt Customs Officials – Officials responsible for collecting tariffs might underreport revenue, accept bribes from importers to reduce duties, or pocket a portion of the funds.

2. Misallocation of Funds – Governments may officially collect tariffs but divert them to unauthorized or fraudulent projects, shell companies, or personal accounts.

3. Falsification of Trade Data – Importers and customs officials might collude to manipulate import values, classify goods under lower-taxed categories, or underreport quantities to reduce tariff obligations.

4. Money Laundering Schemes – Corrupt actors can use tariff revenue as part of larger money laundering operations, disguising the movement of illicit funds.

5. Political Misuse – In some cases, tariff revenue is siphoned into slush funds used for political campaigns, bribery, or maintaining control over government institutions.

To prevent such fraud, governments implement audits, digital tracking, transparency measures, and anti-corruption agencies. However, in countries with weak oversight, tariff revenue can still be misappropriated.

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Tracy Toner's avatar

Yes 💯 agree!! I always want to ask Maga folks what benefits do they think they will be getting? Ummmm…🙋🏼‍♀️I know, a big fat whole lotta nothing!! This corrupt administration will steal right in front of our noses. 🙄🤦🏼‍♀️🤬🤬🤬

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Wendy E's avatar

It will be filtered into the crypto reserve which Trump is trying to get approved under the Executive Branch only and because they share nothing with the public, that will be filtered out to their pockets as well. It's all a very elaborate scam of the American people.

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Suzie's avatar

That's his intent. Make his rich friends and family richer.

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Elaine H's avatar

Thanks Michael, always love reading and listening to you. Michael Monday! 💙 The MAGA cult will believe anything from Trump and don’t care if others are hurt, just not them. They are in for a rude awakening.

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Mark Bitman's avatar

I have been saying that it’s almost like he is turning America into a swanky country club where we work day and night just to afford to drive the golf cart around. I have resorted to planting a garden of my own and I am very furious. He once spoke about the Haitians eating their cats and dogs…this could easily be the Americans. We are all being forced back into slavery. I noticed that this weekend new mini businesses are opening up everywhere. And they are mobile businesses. Went to get my car washed, guy had his suv open with a propane tank, and gas grill, he was selling hotdogs at the car wash! What a great idea! There was no health department oversight, but hey, get the car washed, vacuumed and a hotdog for everyone in the car!

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Carin Froehlich's avatar

Awesome hotdog story went to buy pet food the other day my husband was shocked how much it cost prior tariffs he calls the pet food our near future Sunday Dinner

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Mark Bitman's avatar

Belly laugh, thought the same thing. In fact if it goes any higher I will start making my own.

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Patty's avatar

Your daily commentaries are well written, exactly to the point, and hilarious ( being a native New Yorker i understand your tone); you are very smart ! keep up the great work !

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Krisztina Kiss's avatar

Isn't the whole purpose of tariffs to collect a 25% revenue for the government (which will be paid by us, the customers, at the end of the day) so they can afford the 4 trillion dollars tax cuts for the wealthiest? Isn't it basically taxing us, and the poorer the more they will be affected, and extra 25%? Isn't that the real story?

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Sheila England's avatar

Just another day on the journey to causing the suffering and early deaths of our most vulnerable men, women and children, A.K.A “losers” in Trump’s fantasy land. This “elected” government is waging a war on it’s citizens without guns, yet.

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AMK's avatar

A savvy and savage assessment, tinged with funereal humour. I love it! Thanks Michael 😊

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Danita Hamilton's avatar

Thank you Michael appreciate all you do and thank you for breaking all that down so we can fully understand.

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Ermila Garza's avatar

Great write!!!!!

Financial Armageddon Day, thank to Trump!!!

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Francoise MOUSSAT's avatar

Grandeur et Décadence / Rise and Fall...

In his book Yesterday and Tomorrow. Brief Thoughts (1918), Gustave Le Bon (1841-1931) wrote:

"Economic struggles are sometimes as ruinous as military struggles. History shows that they have led to the decline of several countries."

Original quote in French :

"Les luttes économiques sont parfois aussi ruineuses que les luttes militaires. L'histoire montre qu'elles engendrèrent la décadence de plusieurs pays."

Hier et demain. Pensées brèves (1918)

Gustave Le Bon (1841-1931)

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DK Brooklyn's avatar

Once prices of cars go up because of tariffs, I doubt they will ever go down.

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Shame On ‘em's avatar

Thank you for keeping us informed. What I want to see is, since these so-called tariffs are going to drive the cost of living up in every aspect, we, the people, who live on SS/SSI/SSDI, etc., should see the COLA raise spike just as high right? 🤔

It ain’t 💩 funny when it comes to my money!! Don’t play with our lives. “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me.” Said the Lord.

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Kathy T.'s avatar

The sentence that explains it all:

"This is nothing more than the economic manifestation of Trump’s narcissism. He wants to be seen as a hero; an economic freedom fighter, without understanding a damn thing about how global trade works."

The bigger question is still HOW this raging lunatic managed election. The future of democracy everywhere really needs to know.

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Scott Santana's avatar

Great article! Trumps appetite for destruction seems like it will never be satisfied. He is taking us all down to the depths of hell with him and he gets pleasure from it.

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Ermila Garza's avatar

Michael, honestly, you make me laugh so hard!! Thank you for putting a smile on my Monday!!!

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