Based on various reports, Nancy Pelosi said that the surprise debt ceiling deal she and Senate minority leader Schumer cut with President Trump was partly a function of Schumer being able to “speak New York” to Trump. Here’s how it came down: Scene: White House, Oval Office Dramatis personae: Trump, Mnuchin, Pelosi, Schumer, a couple… Read more
Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category
The workload they’re facing would be tough for a functional Congress
Just a quick note of the mass of portentous stuff on Congress’s plate as they return to DC this week. –The debt ceiling. To do: They’ve got to raise it by late-Sept., maybe mid-Oct. at the latest. Frictions: Hard-right typically wants to extract promises of less future spending, but grownup R’s are calling for a… Read more
Catching up with links, and a quick word on Harvey (w/ more to come)
–Ben Spielberg and I have a new piece out today on the drip of anti-worker rule changes, executive orders, and legislation from the Trump administration targeting worker safety, pay, and unions. I suspect that even for those who are paying attention, some of this wasn’t on your radar. –Speaking of unions–and we should be doing… Read more
It’s no mystery why Trump is alienating “fellow” Republicans. (Hint: they’re not really “fellows.”)
Trigger warning: I’m stepping outside my econozone for some political commentary (don’t worry; I’ll make it quick). Sorry to do so, but I find this surprisingly naïve. At this late date, a lot of well-placed people still seem to miss President Trump’s sole motivation. I’m talking about these complaints from today’s papers that the President… Read more
A few words on Charlottesville
I very rarely stray from my political econo-lane here at OTE, of which I’m duly proud. As some famous philosopher said, “That of which we do not know, we must not speak.” Clearly, he wasn’t a DC pundit. But I live in Virginia, a few hours away from Charlottesville. I had dinner last night with… Read more