I am continual baffled by the following -- "Boy Republicans act horribly and are bad people for doing x.....we Dems should do x".

Tom, this ties back to your essay on Trump's lack of classic manliness. Take responsibility for your actions, don't blame others when you are in charge.

Daniel Dale will earn his salary today and probably need a day off tomorrow.

The total capture of the DOJ, seemingly with very little pushback or resistance, is one of the most striking examples of the capitulation of American elites in the face of authoritarianism. It’s been less than a year, and federal prosecutions or investigations are already completely discredited.

What can history teach us about what happens when a populist strongman with an idiosyncratic taste for low interest rates undermines central bank independence?

In some ways the fact that Trump was able to imitate this criminal probe of the Fed is a bigger deal than the impulse itself. This isn’t just retaliation angst a foe like Comey or James. It’s a direct attack on key institution of the American Republic. As I said, it’s not a surprise but it shows …

Just to be technical --- Hawaii and the Aleutian islands are US territory. But I grant you point.

I am not saying it is the same existential threat. But FDR stared down some pretty significant threat and when you combine the the Great Depression with WWII that is pretty impressive.

Fair point. Though FDR faced a pretty intense time. Though, not quite like Z.

I like Zelensky...but there have been plenty of such American presidents who are tough, determined and media savvy since Lincoln.

You are kidding right?!

I just assume you were going to share.

Kevin Hassett is right. Dow 36k is totally possible.

It's not just the biggest peacetime tax increase in US history. It's also the most regressive tax increase in US history.

We all know why.

For a long time I doubted the business case for cryptocurrency. I see it now: it's the money we will use to pay the smugglers and black marketeers who bootleg bananas past Trump's border guards.

I live in a very Trump/Republican district. But I am calling today.

Weirdly, I think that is a worse result.

Increasingly that should be "most" of the time.

It makes Smoot-Hawley look like a well reasoned policy.

I think you are under the mistaken impression that Congressional Republicans have a will of their own.

"The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand."

Well, I am sure tomorrow will set things right.

Your "both sideism" is so f-ing irritating and political obtuse.

I am not lying or engaging bragging when I say nothing Trump has done -- including today -- surprises me. AND, I said that to people I know before the election. (I live in a VERY heavy Trumpian county in PA.)

absolutely humiliating that the people destroying america are this fucking stupid

Trump is a consummate pro, Josh....if you are going to destroy American power you need to hit it in every category.