Politics

A collection of 465 posts

Macro

Canada Slashes Business Investment Tax Rate to 6.4%, Lowest in G7

Canada is cutting its marginal effective tax rate on new business investment from 13% to 6.4% via a new Productivity Mega Deduction, the lowest in the G7 and less than half the US rate of 16.9%.

Politics

Bessent Backs Trump's $5,000 Midterm Check Plan for Americans

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has endorsed Trump's plan to send $5,000 checks to Americans if Republicans win the midterms. The proposal could cost over $1 trillion and faces Senate GOP pushback.

Politics

Russian Oligarch Umar Kremlev Bankrolled Don Jr.'s Bahamas Wedding: ProPublica

ProPublica says Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, a Putin ally, paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward Donald Trump Jr.'s Bahamas wedding, routed through a Dubai entity tied to the International Boxing Association.

Macro

1 in 3 Americans Skipped a Meal to Save Money This Year

Roughly one in three Americans have skipped a meal this year to save money, per new NY Fed and Gallup data. The K-shaped economy has clear read-throughs for grocers, discounters, and restaurants.

Markets

Gallup: 89% of Americans See Widespread Government Corruption

A new Gallup poll reveals a record 89% of Americans believe corruption is widespread in the U.S. government, marking a 20-year high. This perception crosses party lines and shows a significant increase from previous years, diverging from global trends and highlighting a wider gap between perceived…

Tech

Australia to Let Users Switch Off Social Media Algorithms

Australia's proposed My Feed, My Way law would let users over 16 switch off algorithmic social media feeds, with fines up to $79M for non-compliance. META, GOOGL, and SNAP are directly exposed.

Politics

60 Minutes: ‘Pardon Brokers’ Pitching Trump Clemency for Six-Figure Fees

A 60 Minutes hidden-camera probe caught lobbyists pitching Trump pardons for $300K, while rapper Boosie says he paid $600K and got nothing. The White House denies pardons are for sale.

Politics

DHS ‘PITT’ Unit Reportedly Mines Americans’ Finances to Trigger Traffic Stops

A secretive DHS Border Patrol unit called PITT is reportedly analyzing Americans’ financial activity and passing names to local police to trigger pretextual traffic stops, per a 404 Media investigation.

Politics

Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland to Sign Deal Aimed at UK Break-Up

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders will meet in Cardiff to sign a joint declaration demanding independence referendums, a move that could inject fresh constitutional risk into GBP, gilts and UK-exposed equities.

Markets

Buttigieg Dismisses Trump's $5K Payment Promise as 'Free Pony' Ploy

Pete Buttigieg has criticized Donald Trump's promise of a $5,000 payment to every American adult if Republicans win the midterms, calling it a "desperate strategy" and comparing it to offering a "free pony." The proposal faces significant fiscal hurdles and skepticism.

Markets

Top 100 Americans Hold $5.5T, More Than the Bottom Half Combined

The 100 wealthiest Americans now hold an estimated $5.5 trillion in net worth, topping the $4.3 trillion held by the entire bottom half of U.S. households, per CBS.

Markets

Americans See Government Corruption at Record High

A new Gallup poll reveals 89% of Americans believe government corruption is widespread, marking a record high in two decades. This sentiment is rising across the political spectrum and places the U.S. as an outlier among advanced economies, potentially impacting market sentiment and policy outlook.

Markets

$100K Social Security Payouts for Wealthy Boomers Fuel Debt Crisis

Social Security faces insolvency by 2032-2034, with a significant portion of benefits going to high-income retirees. This trend, where some affluent Boomers collect over $100,000 annually, is exacerbating the national debt and raising questions about intergenerational wealth transfer.

Macro

Buffett's 5-Minute Deficit Fix Resurfaces as US Debt Tops $40T

Warren Buffett's 2011 quip about ending the federal deficit in five minutes is trending again as US debt tops $40 trillion and deficits run near 5.8% of GDP.

Macro

Carney, Macron Weigh Visa-Free EU Access for Canadians as Ottawa Pivots From U.S.

Canada PM Mark Carney and France's Emmanuel Macron have discussed letting Canadians live and work visa-free in the EU, part of Ottawa's push for closer ties as U.S. trade relations deteriorate, per WSJ.

AI

OpenAI Safety Researcher Puts Human Extinction at 70% in 3 Years

OpenAI Safety Oversight researcher Marcus Williams put human extinction odds at 70% within three years absent AI regulation or a coordinated lab slowdown, adding fuel to a growing Washington push to pause frontier AI.

Politics

Beshear Slams McConnell Silence: Owes Explanation If Absent Monday

Governor Andy Beshear says he has heard nothing from Senator Mitch McConnell in three months and demands a public explanation if the senator is absent when the Senate reconvenes Monday.

Politics

Trump defends $5,000 dividend delay: “Democrats can’t do it”

Trump defended the timing of his $5,000 dividend plan on Fox News, telling Laura Ingraham the checks hinge on a GOP midterm win because Democrats deliver “negative growth.” The proposal carries an estimated $1.3T price tag.

Markets

Ted Cruz: “I’d Rather They Be American Killer Robots Than Chinese”

Senator Ted Cruz recently stated he'd prefer "American killer robots" over Chinese ones, highlighting the intense US-China AI race and national security concerns. His comments come amid calls for AI regulation, emphasizing the delicate balance between innovation and safeguards to maintain a…

energy

Trump: Gas Prices Will Fall Below $2 After November Midterms

Trump says US gasoline will fall below $2 per gallon, but not until after November's midterms, tying relief to the end of the Iran war as Brent trades above $100.

Markets

Jerome Powell Sells Gibson Island Estate for $7.2 Million

Former Fed Chair Jerome Powell sold his Gibson Island, Maryland waterfront mansion for $7.2 million in an off-market deal. He bought it in 2006 for $3.86 million.

Politics

Tucker Carlson: GOP Will Lose in November Over Trump’s Foreign Policy

Tucker Carlson says Republicans will lose the November midterms because Trump prioritized a foreign country over his voters. Here is what the political shift could mean for defense, energy, and broader market positioning.

Politics

Trump Pledges $5,000 ‘Dividend’ Per Citizen if GOP Holds Congress

Trump pledged a $5,000 ‘Trump dividend’ to every adult US citizen if Republicans hold both chambers in the midterms. The tab could top $1.2T against $40T in debt.

Geopolitics

Trump on Ukraine deal: “The holdup is two people that hate each other”

Trump said Putin wants a Ukraine deal but blamed the stalled negotiations on personal hatred between Putin and Zelenskyy, keeping defense and energy names in focus.

Politics

Trump Pledges $500 Obamacare Rebate Checks to 1 Million Enrollees

Trump says $500 rebate checks will go to about 1 million Obamacare enrollees in 30 states starting October, funded from surplus healthcare.gov user fees. Watch ACA-exposed insurers.