Kyle Scanlon on the Disconnect Between Economic Data and Consumer Sentiment

Young men don’t believe they have a future, they don’t trust institutions, and they don’t trust each other, so they feel that they need to get rich quick with a variety of ways to gamble. Most of them lose money, which could make their trust in society even worse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwT5ifxFXOk

US Says China Agrees to Spend Billions on Agricultural Goods

“Previous efforts by Trump to get China to purchase more US goods have fallen short, raising questions about whether the latest pledges will be fulfilled. China failed to meet its commitments under an agreement Trump brokered in 2020 to buy an extra $200 billion in US agricultural, energy and manufactured products over a two-year period. The Covid-19 pandemic complicated that effort but critics said the targets were unrealistic.

China has recently turned to cheaper Brazilian soybeans after meeting the initial purchasing volume from the US agreed to in last year’s trade truce between Washington and Beijing.

While the fresh discloser will likely be welcomed by farmers, who were seeking more clarity from the latest summit, the amount may not be large enough to satisfy growers looking to turn around tough economic conditions.

Farmers have been struggling for years with relatively low crop prices and high costs. Pressures have been compounded by geopolitical tensions including Trump’s tariffs, and most recently by a surge in fertilizer costs linked to the conflict in Iran.”

https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/us-says-china-agrees-spend-181028241.html

Inflation jumps to its highest level in three years

“Prices rose 3.8% in April compared to a year earlier, marking an increase from a year-over-year inflation rate of 3.3% in the prior month. Annual inflation jumped to its highest level in three years, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data showed.

As recently as February, inflation stood at 2.4%, clocking in just a tick above the Federal Reserve’s target level of 2%.

The jump in prices last month owed in large part to a sharp rise in costs for products impacted by a global oil shock. Gasoline prices were 5% higher in April than March, the BLS report said. Airline fares climbed 2.8% from the previous month.”

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/inflation-report-show-latest-prices-090527890.html

OpenAI’s Week From Hell — And Why Anthropic Is Winning

Spirit Airlines means nothing to the economy. The point of capitalism is that creative destruction helps us get good companies that sell us good products and services. It doesn’t work if you bailout the losers! It’s one thing if the fall of the company hurts the entire economy or much of the country, but Spirit doesn’t matter. The government had no business trying to bail it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9rXSTpd2YU

What the Xi–Trump Summit Means for the US–China Power Race

We need engineers and technologists to advance the country forward, including in the government. It’s a great tragedy that when we gave a technologist, Elon Musk, great governmental power, he used it not to build, but to destroy. Rather than using his business and technical expertise to make government better, he used his biased ideology and political incompetence to destroy things that were providing good to Americans and the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI0f_iVcDQ8

How Iran Will Kill 80+ Years of US Global Hegemony

Throughout history, even before it became a global superpower, the United States fought to defend the freedom of the seas. If Iran forces the US to accept an extortionary toll on the Strait of Hormuz, it will be a great blow to the US-led order that allows trade across international waters without heavy fees enforced by deadly power.

Control of the Strait gives Iran control over the price of oil. If they want the price higher, they let fewer ships through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o4IUPNYAK0

Trump administration nears deal to rescue Spirit Airlines, WSJ reports

“The U.S. government will lend Spirit as much as $500 million in exchange for warrants to take a potential stake in the carrier, according to the report.”

https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/trump-administration-nears-deal-rescue-150532605.html

Why the Iran Ceasefire Changes Nothing Economically

Thanks to the US having weaker relationships with our allies due to Trump’s bullying, and Trump’s, so far, failed war in Iran, and Trump’s failure to contain Russia or China…US military spending is going to be much higher. Trump’s attempts at saving money by getting allies to pay more has backfired.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTuS_cA6lus