Exactly right. We need more people all the time having conversations about the real life impact right now on our personal financial security. It’s abundantly clear who in leadership has never lived paycheck to paycheck and can’t relate to — and/or don’t care — what every day people are going through. It’s easy for the “true believers” to dismiss the market fluctuations. Faux News and others have already given them their orders on what to think and what to say in response to it. In talking to my family in the great American Heartland, they have relayed 3 separate conversations with unconnected people that were all the same. They include a MAGA middle income businessman in one state and a 90 year old couple in another state who are in terrible health and who have 3 generations living with them and they are all in perilous economic circumstances. “Don’t worry. It will all come back. He knows what he’s doing,” they say about the stock market. BUT. They can and will see prices increase on products they buy from big box stores and grocery stores. They will start to hear about job losses. They will start to know people who lose their jobs. The elderly man gets his care from the VA and he has complex medical needs. He can barely walk. They are on social security. Those benefits that they earned will start to shrink and disappear. Appointments for care will be harder to get. They barely use the internet. And now Elon and our ‘government’ expects them to get on his personal, for-profit business X for official government information about social security (a clear violation of ethics and standards). Things will start to get personal, and I would think that that will be harder to dismiss. As frustrated as I am by their willful ignorance, coldness and uncaring toward their fellow citizen, and cult like devotion to Trump the man, I will welcome and support them any day they wake up and realize Trump doesn’t care about them, and never has.
Very true…I’ve worked commission only in residential real estate for 25 years. I save 50% of my pay in treasury bonds. I have a disabled adult son with epilepsy and related brain damage. He works odd jobs, but I provide a majority of his support. My husband is an MD is also straight commission (RVU’s). His health has him working every other week. He’s all in on stock market. My daughter that is a private practice psychologist. I frightened about the next few years on my way to age 70. I know some people will have to move, for work or for a financial reason. I’m a top 1% producer, so I’ve never wanted for Buyers or Sellers, but my new home sales will plummet with tariffs. As for spending on stuff—we all own our houses free & clear, we’re also minimalists, which helps. Our 9 yr old grandchild will need shoes and clothing, but we’re in shape to help our daughter. I want my kids to keep feeding their Roth. We match them every year so they are good about saving for old age. It’s scary. My kids know to keep us home with hired help and put us on comfort care if we lose our memories. Don’t want our money going to nursing homes. Easier said than done, right?
They seem to forget, and any expert can state this, is that “economy” is STILL about The People. He can play games at the top, but the dynamics of the economy is still driven by people and their buying and investment actions. Trickle down NEVER worked. It’ll all dry up at the top and crumble down.
Always a pleasure to read your posts. You offer good advice to fight the regime that's harming the majority of people for the benefit of the few, especially the orange Frankenstein monster that the Supreme Court has created and that is now turning against them.
People are still fooled by Trump’s claim that he cares about them but the last weeks should provide ample proof he doesn’t. As things break down, hopefully their eyes will open - but will the carnival barker still mesmerize them?
I like the rest have family and friends that are MAGA to listen to them TODAY just wants to make me cry the bullshit they repeat is like nothing in my entire seventy years on this earth can I compare to. Education is a key yet they have to listen and believe the education and they certainly will not as long as there is Fox News ,Newsmax Truth Social and X we take them out of the picture and we have a fighting chance until then we can just keep going in circles. Same with the Republican politicians that claim that Trump is king. People are crying that the Democrats are not behind the ball they aren’t waving their magic wands correctly. The Democrats are up against a brick wall until they get the majority and we certainly can’t wait till 2026 midterms that’s a pipe dream
The reality is that most Americans have very little to no understanding of economics and financial planning. They stopped promoting courses related to these topics in public education in the 90s because they realized that if Americans knew how to invest they wouldn’t be susceptible to debt which is what our banking institutions make the most profit on and consumers would be more knowledgeable of scams, which is why so many Americans who voted for this are happy with what is going on. They are too proud to admit that they have no understanding of finances & many Americans have gone into debt because of their lack of financial planning and overspending. As of this week, the USD $ has lost value meaning that things will cost more and that means more Americans won’t be able to afford necessities and prices will continue to go up on top of tariff goods… we are not in a good place at all.
Yesterday while looking deeply into Woody Guthrie and particular song lyrics I found out he and his second wife Marjorie and three kids (including Arlo) were a "victims" of the notorious Fred Trump who owned the dive they rented two years until Woody's devastating diagnosis of Huntington's Chorea. Due to the finally discovered reason/diagnosis of Woody's seemingly bizarre behaviors and difficulties of many kinds the family was unable to sustain their rent and first Woody left then wife and kids. Even though a kindly explanation for their departure was provided by the wife there is no record of Trump's response of any sort. The apartment/project was a Hell-hole and also devoid of any folks of color as was true to the elder Trump's form. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!
Using the department of inefficiency, the doors to the capitol building are locked and the reps all get pink slips "You're Fired!". DT explains that since the executive branch is in charge and he has the enormous mandate from the people, he would simply create the laws he deemed favorable, and save time and money by eliminating all of those high paid reps who are just rubber stamping his laws anyway... also, making him get writers' cramp by having to sign them.
Heck, he would turn the capitol building into a museum and make money charging for tourists. Do the same for the White House house building and move the center of government (himself) to Mar Lago.
Always good reading. Love your input, always. God work, Michael. We all have to stay on this fight until the people elect leaders who will take back our country from this brunch at the Trump regime.
Although the economy is important, there is also trump’s enormous charisma and cult-power. People believe in him still, though the economy is crumbling around them. They believe when he says he’s going to usher in a new Golden Age. They believe when he says the economy was in shatters thanks to Biden. I see this in right-wing publications I force myself to read, and I don’t know how to break that spell. Having said that, god bless the comedians! I wonder if guys like Bill Barr, SNL, Trae Crowder and the like, do more than the Dems for pounding down some home-truths!
You're absolutely right Michael. The bread-and-butter dinner table conversations that delve into the people's pocketbooks and bank accounts. They take place all across America and it doesn't matter what side of the political spectrum you align with. IMHO and excuse me if I'm repeating myself the demos need to go on the offensive. We know Muerte-a-Lardo says and does stupid things. We know he lies. And the corporate media normalizes him. When they do the liberals respond with facts. And don't get me wrong. Fact-checking lies is great. But they land with a thud. Because in the eye of the public when you're defending the truth it casts doubt on your argument. It makes you look weak. So to the dems I say stop punching up! Quit being limp noodles. Go on the offense. Ask the tough question. Put the media and conservatives on the spot. Be the ones in control. Remember. When you're asking all the questions, you're in command. You control the flow, direction and content of the conversation.
Trump knows exactly what he is doing—intentionally manipulating the markets. Hi, on-and-off tariffs are a strategy. Implement a tariff. Wait for the impact. He continued to do this until he got the results he wanted—a market rally. Scott Besset said they had planned this all along. Hit the global economy, and countries will be begging him for help. While he was boasting about that, other countries were planning counter-tariffs.
We need to get a message out to Republicans who kissed the ring. Trump's team is watching everything. They fear his wrath and their jobs. They don't want to lose their positions because of the tangible benefits—they have become dependent and complacent on them. Sound familiar? If they are afraid to lose their jobs, then it isn't the job for them.
Exactly right. We need more people all the time having conversations about the real life impact right now on our personal financial security. It’s abundantly clear who in leadership has never lived paycheck to paycheck and can’t relate to — and/or don’t care — what every day people are going through. It’s easy for the “true believers” to dismiss the market fluctuations. Faux News and others have already given them their orders on what to think and what to say in response to it. In talking to my family in the great American Heartland, they have relayed 3 separate conversations with unconnected people that were all the same. They include a MAGA middle income businessman in one state and a 90 year old couple in another state who are in terrible health and who have 3 generations living with them and they are all in perilous economic circumstances. “Don’t worry. It will all come back. He knows what he’s doing,” they say about the stock market. BUT. They can and will see prices increase on products they buy from big box stores and grocery stores. They will start to hear about job losses. They will start to know people who lose their jobs. The elderly man gets his care from the VA and he has complex medical needs. He can barely walk. They are on social security. Those benefits that they earned will start to shrink and disappear. Appointments for care will be harder to get. They barely use the internet. And now Elon and our ‘government’ expects them to get on his personal, for-profit business X for official government information about social security (a clear violation of ethics and standards). Things will start to get personal, and I would think that that will be harder to dismiss. As frustrated as I am by their willful ignorance, coldness and uncaring toward their fellow citizen, and cult like devotion to Trump the man, I will welcome and support them any day they wake up and realize Trump doesn’t care about them, and never has.
Very true…I’ve worked commission only in residential real estate for 25 years. I save 50% of my pay in treasury bonds. I have a disabled adult son with epilepsy and related brain damage. He works odd jobs, but I provide a majority of his support. My husband is an MD is also straight commission (RVU’s). His health has him working every other week. He’s all in on stock market. My daughter that is a private practice psychologist. I frightened about the next few years on my way to age 70. I know some people will have to move, for work or for a financial reason. I’m a top 1% producer, so I’ve never wanted for Buyers or Sellers, but my new home sales will plummet with tariffs. As for spending on stuff—we all own our houses free & clear, we’re also minimalists, which helps. Our 9 yr old grandchild will need shoes and clothing, but we’re in shape to help our daughter. I want my kids to keep feeding their Roth. We match them every year so they are good about saving for old age. It’s scary. My kids know to keep us home with hired help and put us on comfort care if we lose our memories. Don’t want our money going to nursing homes. Easier said than done, right?
They seem to forget, and any expert can state this, is that “economy” is STILL about The People. He can play games at the top, but the dynamics of the economy is still driven by people and their buying and investment actions. Trickle down NEVER worked. It’ll all dry up at the top and crumble down.
Always a pleasure to read your posts. You offer good advice to fight the regime that's harming the majority of people for the benefit of the few, especially the orange Frankenstein monster that the Supreme Court has created and that is now turning against them.
People are still fooled by Trump’s claim that he cares about them but the last weeks should provide ample proof he doesn’t. As things break down, hopefully their eyes will open - but will the carnival barker still mesmerize them?
I like the rest have family and friends that are MAGA to listen to them TODAY just wants to make me cry the bullshit they repeat is like nothing in my entire seventy years on this earth can I compare to. Education is a key yet they have to listen and believe the education and they certainly will not as long as there is Fox News ,Newsmax Truth Social and X we take them out of the picture and we have a fighting chance until then we can just keep going in circles. Same with the Republican politicians that claim that Trump is king. People are crying that the Democrats are not behind the ball they aren’t waving their magic wands correctly. The Democrats are up against a brick wall until they get the majority and we certainly can’t wait till 2026 midterms that’s a pipe dream
The reality is that most Americans have very little to no understanding of economics and financial planning. They stopped promoting courses related to these topics in public education in the 90s because they realized that if Americans knew how to invest they wouldn’t be susceptible to debt which is what our banking institutions make the most profit on and consumers would be more knowledgeable of scams, which is why so many Americans who voted for this are happy with what is going on. They are too proud to admit that they have no understanding of finances & many Americans have gone into debt because of their lack of financial planning and overspending. As of this week, the USD $ has lost value meaning that things will cost more and that means more Americans won’t be able to afford necessities and prices will continue to go up on top of tariff goods… we are not in a good place at all.
Yesterday while looking deeply into Woody Guthrie and particular song lyrics I found out he and his second wife Marjorie and three kids (including Arlo) were a "victims" of the notorious Fred Trump who owned the dive they rented two years until Woody's devastating diagnosis of Huntington's Chorea. Due to the finally discovered reason/diagnosis of Woody's seemingly bizarre behaviors and difficulties of many kinds the family was unable to sustain their rent and first Woody left then wife and kids. Even though a kindly explanation for their departure was provided by the wife there is no record of Trump's response of any sort. The apartment/project was a Hell-hole and also devoid of any folks of color as was true to the elder Trump's form. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!
I' m thinking, "What's next?":
Using the department of inefficiency, the doors to the capitol building are locked and the reps all get pink slips "You're Fired!". DT explains that since the executive branch is in charge and he has the enormous mandate from the people, he would simply create the laws he deemed favorable, and save time and money by eliminating all of those high paid reps who are just rubber stamping his laws anyway... also, making him get writers' cramp by having to sign them.
Heck, he would turn the capitol building into a museum and make money charging for tourists. Do the same for the White House house building and move the center of government (himself) to Mar Lago.
You are amazing!
Always good reading. Love your input, always. God work, Michael. We all have to stay on this fight until the people elect leaders who will take back our country from this brunch at the Trump regime.
Wise words.
We must hold Trump's enablers accountable for their crimes against our nation's Democracy.
You are sooo right Michael. I’ve been listening to your podcasts ever since you started, and bought your book Revenge ages ago. I’m committed. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Well, Musk did call the moron a moron.
Although the economy is important, there is also trump’s enormous charisma and cult-power. People believe in him still, though the economy is crumbling around them. They believe when he says he’s going to usher in a new Golden Age. They believe when he says the economy was in shatters thanks to Biden. I see this in right-wing publications I force myself to read, and I don’t know how to break that spell. Having said that, god bless the comedians! I wonder if guys like Bill Barr, SNL, Trae Crowder and the like, do more than the Dems for pounding down some home-truths!
You're absolutely right Michael. The bread-and-butter dinner table conversations that delve into the people's pocketbooks and bank accounts. They take place all across America and it doesn't matter what side of the political spectrum you align with. IMHO and excuse me if I'm repeating myself the demos need to go on the offensive. We know Muerte-a-Lardo says and does stupid things. We know he lies. And the corporate media normalizes him. When they do the liberals respond with facts. And don't get me wrong. Fact-checking lies is great. But they land with a thud. Because in the eye of the public when you're defending the truth it casts doubt on your argument. It makes you look weak. So to the dems I say stop punching up! Quit being limp noodles. Go on the offense. Ask the tough question. Put the media and conservatives on the spot. Be the ones in control. Remember. When you're asking all the questions, you're in command. You control the flow, direction and content of the conversation.
Trump knows exactly what he is doing—intentionally manipulating the markets. Hi, on-and-off tariffs are a strategy. Implement a tariff. Wait for the impact. He continued to do this until he got the results he wanted—a market rally. Scott Besset said they had planned this all along. Hit the global economy, and countries will be begging him for help. While he was boasting about that, other countries were planning counter-tariffs.
We need to get a message out to Republicans who kissed the ring. Trump's team is watching everything. They fear his wrath and their jobs. They don't want to lose their positions because of the tangible benefits—they have become dependent and complacent on them. Sound familiar? If they are afraid to lose their jobs, then it isn't the job for them.