Fearless commentary on finance, economics, politics and power

Today’s Water Cooler: Open thread

Is language, or more specifically, notions strongly represented in major modern languages, a big culprit in our inability to contend with self-induced existential threats?

Libra is going nowhere fast.

A study on Texas turning Medicaid over to private contractors shows mixed results, which is better than most critics would expect. But does this study attribute bennies to privatization that aren’t justified?

Yves here. Readers will notice a marked disconnect between Michael Olenick’s grim account of the impact of the automation of the early industrial era on workers’ lives as to his more sanguine posture for the future. One way to reconcile the two is that major shift in automation can have significant transition costs in terms […]

Today’s Water Cooler: Turkey and automobile production, Biden, Sanders squad endorsements, Warren, the debate, impeachment, retail sales, business inventories, housing market, retail, Dutch tulips, the Cloud, OS X mail bug, shale, autumm leaves, GM strike, brain tuning, Pumpkin Spice for Men

An explanation of the Federal Reserve money system.

How Trump made the long-standing border boondoggle even bigger.

Is what Democratic candidates mean by “green trade deals” what environmentalists and trade experts mean?

Candidates! Candidates! Candidates! ★★★Twelve candidates on one stage!★★★ Come on down!

Today’s Water Cooler: China trade, Biden, Buttigieg, Gabbard, Warren, Yang, influencers, woman truckers, SpaceX, Fortnite, PG&E, The Economist throws in the towel on robot cars, power outage, scientists supporting non-violent direct action, Medicaid estate recovery, inequality, Simone Biles, politeness

Since impeachment looks likely to stay front and center of the news, how to make sense of polls.