~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics; Michelle stays home; Trump to work the grill at McDonald’s in Philly; Trump’s “fascism”; Boeing borrows $10 billion, fights off junk status for now, faces break-up ~
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Key Issues in Economic Analysis in an Increasingly Turbulent Security Environment
After a period of rapid growth, recent trends in world trade reveal a phase of stagnation. Rising geopolitical tensions have been accompanied by trade restrictions in the name of national and economic security. Analysis of economic security measures should consider multiple dimensions, including the effect on global supply chains, efficiency, costs, foreign direct investment, trade in services, and international competition.
Will the Conflicts in the Middle East Spill Over Into the Caucasus?
The standoff between Armenia and Azerbaijan is being used to apply more pressure on Iran and has all the signs of a neocon divide and conquer scheme.
“Powder Keg in the Pacific, How China’s Challenge Revived America’s Position in Asia and the Pacific”
A reader critical thinking exercise in the form of a neocon justification of US efforts to contain China.
2:00PM Water Cooler 10/15/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics; CIA Democrats; Kamala and Biden teams at odds; Trump singing and dancing Town Hall not the debacle portrayed; Boeing to borrow billions, delays 777X, plans drastic white-collar cuts ~
Europe’s Blue Hydrogen Plans Risk Generating Annual Emissions on Par With Denmark
An important takedown of the blue hydrogen scam, a pet initiative of fossil fuel companies.
Nicaragua Severs Ties With Tel Aviv While Germany Creates “Genocide Clause” to Justify Sending More Arms to Israel
The title of this post may, at first sight, seem a little baffling. After all, what does the smallish one-party Central American state of Nicaragua have to do with Europe’s largest economy, Germany? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot.
What If There’s No Landing at All, But Flight at Higher Speed and Altitude than Normal, with Higher and Rising Inflation?
Recent economic data suggest inflation may gain steam again. What would the Fed do?
“Is The West Prepared to Deal With Potential Iranian Sabotage of the Oil Market?”
A discussion of some of the ways Iran could use economic, as in oil, leverage to retaliate against an Israel strike.
Brief History of Bipartisan Ballot Bamboozlement: 2000–2020
“Our democracy” has quite a history of problems….
2:00PM Water Cooler 10/14/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, Syndemics; Democrat bedwetting; Kamala messaging disasters: Walz goes hunting, manly men, Obama and black men; Walz oppo bubbles up, not yet popped; Labor Secretary Su flies to Seattle, Boeing’s doom loop ~
Private Equity Pummeled by Higher Interest Rates as Portfolio Companies and Credit Funds Struggle; Use of PIK Loans Now Recalls Late 1980s LBO Crisis
More and more private equity and private credit deals are looking over-extended. How bad might things get?
