Month: May 2025

Is the Sun Setting on America’s Financial Empire? | The Ezra Klein Show

Posted on by Lone Candle

Dollar dominance is a benefit to Americans. Even individuals could borrow cheaper because the U.S. dollar was the global reserve currency. The dollar losing its value hurts this benefit. Trump’s tariffs weakened U.S. dollar dominance by losing trust in the United States as a responsible leader.

The U.S. didn’t primarily lose some manufacturing due to the strength of the dollar.

U.S. problems are worse than just Trump. There are a lot of bad political ideas on both sides.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT2cohNt6a4

The DOJ Is Doing Its Best To Make Google Unprofitable

Posted on by Lone Candle

“Google is not a charity; it’s a business. If it cannot generate revenue to make a profit through the combination of its advertising products, user data, and contracts with device manufacturers, it may have to raise prices on products that are presently enjoyed for free by consumers.”

https://reason.com/2025/04/23/the-doj-is-doing-its-best-to-make-google-unprofitable/

European Commission Fines Apple and Meta $800 Million

Posted on by Lone Candle

“The commission fined Apple on Tuesday for preventing developers from directly informing users of deals offered outside the App Store, thereby depriving consumers of the benefits of “alternative and cheaper offers.” The commission has ordered the company to remove these restrictions on pain of additional fines. Apple has called the penalty “yet another example of the European Commission unfairly targeting Apple in a series of decisions that are bad for the privacy and security of our users, bad for products, and force us to give away our technology for free,”

On the same day, Meta was fined for offering Facebook and Instagram users a choice between free versions of the apps with personalized advertising and paid ones without advertising—something the commission calls a “pay or consent model.” In a statement, a spokesman for Meta accused the commission of “forcing us to change our business model” said this “effectively imposes a multibillion-dollar tariff on Meta while requiring us to offer an inferior service.””

https://reason.com/2025/04/28/european-commission-fines-apple-and-meta-800-million/

What They Don’t Tell Us About Climate Change | Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

Posted on by Lone Candle

Home insurance in California and Florida is up big thanks to climate change. Polluters get a massive subsidy through their pollution’s negative externality, and they spend the big bucks on lobbyists and propaganda to prevent environmental protection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHTDDJtuWv4

Stop Subsidizing the ‘Sport of Kings’

Posted on by Lone Candle

“There are federal tax benefits for racehorses (although there’s a chance they might soon expire) and some states exempt racehorses from their sales taxes. Other states own the racetracks.”

…

“”The obvious solution here is also the simplest: Just stop,” Shachtman wrote. “Let the sport stand on its own and dwindle to whatever size its fan base supports. Instead, state legislatures keep funneling money to it.””

https://reason.com/2025/04/29/stop-subsidizing-the-sport-of-kings/

AI Bots in California Steal Over $10 Million in Federal Financial Aid

Posted on by Lone Candle

“Bots create AI-generated student profiles, apply for enrollment, and submit minimal online coursework—often AI-generated—to stay enrolled long enough to receive federal and state aid disbursements intended for low-income students. The scammers are known as “Pell runners,” who disappear after collecting the $7,400 federal grant.”

https://reason.com/2025/04/30/ai-bots-in-california-steal-over-10-million-in-federal-financial-aid/

Leaked Tucker Chats Expose MAGA CIVIL WAR

Posted on by Lone Candle

Tech moguls planned in private Signal chats how to turn the culture right and support Trump. This is closer to a secret group of powerful people trying to control society than anything the left does or the “deep state”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF4qM3hkECQ