Author Archives: Yves Smith

Trump and Rubio Signal US on Verge of Halting Ukraine Peace Negotiations

As we had predicted from early on, the Ukraine peact talks are failing. Trump is threatening to pull the plug.

Come-Gimme! Why Do We Shrug When Apes Cross the Language Barrier?

Despite startling breakthroughs, the first words and signs of great apes are rarely publicly celebrated by scientists.

“Is Trump About to End Democracy in the USA?”

Trump asked the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to determine whether to use the Insurrection Act to secure the southern border

Trump Makes Presumed Empty but Loud Threat to Fire Fed Chair Powell, Showing that Trump Will Continue to Wreck Markets and the Economy to Prove His Manhood

Trump is now taking on Fed chair Powell over Powell’s refusal to cut rates to bail Trump out of the economic messes he created.

Tariffs, the Dollar, and Equities: High-Frequency Evidence from the Liberation Day Announcement

Sales of US equities by foreign owners played a meaningful role in the falll of the dollar after the Trump tariff rampage began.

Trump Back on Track to Failed Iran Negotiations and Likely War

After only one US exchange with Iran, new noises from Witkoff and others show the US upping its demands to a level not acceptable to Iran

Trump’s Tariffs Just Torched His Own Energy Agenda

How Trump tariffs are whacking shale development and in turn, Trump’s prized energy dominace strategy.

‘You Don’t Need a Tariff, You Need a Revolution’

Chinese point out that Americans are exploited by oligarchs. But the tariffs, like it or not, are part of a radical right counter-revolution.

More on DOGE’s Fraud and Destruction

An update on DOGE’s rampage through government functions.

Tariffs and Trade Wars: Failing to Learn from the Great Depression

A detailed discussion of the damage done by Smoot Hawley to illustrate why tariffs typically do more harm than good

Who Will Pay the Highest Price for Trump’s Postal Service Privatization Push?

“Without competition from our public Postal Service, for-profit firms would jack up delivery fees on as many customers as possible.”

7 Truths About Trump’s Tariffs — And the High-Stakes Future They Shape

What is Trump trying to achieve on the economic front? Despite all the bobbing and weaving, he does have some core aims.

Links 4/15/2025

Here’s What’s in the New Rough Draft U.S.-Iran Nuclear Deal

A purported list of proposed US terms for its negotiations with Iran looks to go well beyond what Iran could accept.