More Republican Socialism

“”State capitalism is a two-way street. Many businesses, by aligning themselves with Trump’s agenda, elicit better treatment—in their ability to sell to China, the tariffs they pay, how they are regulated, and what mergers are allowed,” wrote Greg Ip, The Wall Street Journal’s chief economics commentator, in a recent piece about how CEOs are navigating Trump’s state capitalism. “In other words, state capitalism doesn’t just serve the interests of the state, but of favored capitalists.”

And the Trump administration does not seem likely to place its own limits on this behavior. Asked recently about the logic behind these acquisitions, Trump said, “We should take stakes in companies when people need something.” That’s an answer that lacks any limiting principle.”

https://reason.com/2025/12/19/more-republican-socialism/

MAGA Fraudster BLOWS HIS STORY in EPIC BACKFIRE

Shirley posted videos of childcare centers than he claimed showed they were fraudulent because no one answered when he visited them, but many of them were active daycares, which don’t answer the doors to groups of men for security concerns. Both government investigations and real reporters who followed up on Shirley’s shoddy work found the daycare centers to be active centers taking care of kids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=283r6-lUnP4

Congress Failed to Extend the Health Care Subsidies. Now What?

By letting the Covid-era boost to ACA subsidies end, Republicans are making health insurance for 24 million people much much more expensive. These are people who: don’t get subsidized health insurance at work, make too much for Medicaid, but also too much for regular ACA subsidies. Many are small business owners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59uBAuavn2Y

Mike Johnson Wanted Congress To Reclaim Power Over Tariffs—in 2019

Mike Johnson used to push for limiting the president’s power over tariffs. Now, he is Trump’s little bitch and actively prevents such bills from even reaching the floor.

https://reason.com/2025/11/21/mike-johnson-wanted-congress-to-reclaim-power-over-tariffs-in-2019/

Why Republicans are worried about Trump’s plans to split the Education Department

“The Trump administration announced Tuesday it would work to shutter the department by transferring critical responsibilities to other federal agencies. The plan revolves around a series of agreements that spread responsibility for administering tens of billions of dollars in school-related spending across the federal government.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/18/why-republicans-are-worried-about-trumps-plans-to-split-the-education-department-00658588

What Happened to the Republican Party?

Some leaders and elected representatives of the Tea Party really believed in their supposed motivations about government spending, debt, and pork. But for the most part, the Tea Party was a big, damn lie. If all those Tea Partiers really cared about such things, they would be protesting and organizing just as hard against Trump right now.

https://reason.com/podcast/2025/10/22/what-happened-to-the-republican-party/

Trump-backed Gallrein officially launches bid to unseat Massie

“Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie has officially drawn a Donald Trump-backed challenger.

Ed Gallrein, who preemptively earned the president’s endorsement last week, launched his campaign Tuesday to oust the seven-term lawmaker Trump began targeting earlier this year over Massie’s opposition to Republicans’ megalaw.”

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/10/21/congress/massies-challenger-00616290

Trump’s Tariffs Are Upending Democratic Politics

“A decade ago, only a fairly small group of congressional Democrats voted to support President Barack Obama’s free trade agenda. Protectionism was on the rise, helping fuel the campaigns of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. Most of the “yes” votes for Obama’s trade program were Republicans.”

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/10/05/jared-polis-trump-democrats-campaign-free-trade-inflation-00592744