Category Archives: Free markets and their discontents

Checking In on the Democrats’ Search for the “Good Billionaires”

What role is elite reconciliation under Trump playing in the Democrats’ silence on the looting of country? And in the meantime, where shall the rest of us turn?

“SOTU” Reactions: Business Press Turning on Trump as Tariffs Whack Markets, Look Set to Increase Inflation, Approval Falls and Even Republicans Getting Restive

Despite the Republican applause during Trump’s State of the Union speech, the business press is sounding alarms.

The GENIUS Act: Setting the Stage for a Federal Bailout When Stablecoins Become Insolvent

Why the GENIUS Act does not live up to its pretenses of making stablecoins safe, thus setting the stage for a Federal bailout.

DOGE Taketh Away From the Many as Trump Pays Off Crypto Bros With New “Strategic” Fund, Above All, Crypto Czar David Sacks

We warned that crypto was closely aligned with criminal activity. The open grift of the new “strategic” Trump fund proves that case.

Jane D’Arista on How the Failure of Global Finance Is Systemic

Jane D’Arista describes the internationalization of finance and how is has produced not just crises but fundamental economic distortions

With RFK Jr. in Charge, Supplement Makers See Chance To Cash In

Why dietary supplement fans should be worried about RFK, Jr.’s plan to weaken their already lax regulation.

US Secondary Sanctions “Have Seriously Damaged” Russia-China Bilateral Cooperation

Russian experts say US secondary sanctions are damaging Russia-China commerce. But their solutions don’t seem to be close to implementation.

America First Deepens World Stagnation

Quelle surprise! America First is another leg down in the developing-country-unfriendly policies the Collective West has pursued.

EU Consumers Don’t Trust US Goods: A Look into Trump’s Trade Deficit Claims

Why trade deficits can’t always be solved by price, as in tariffs or currency manipulation.

Trump’s No-Prisoners Approach to Iran-China Oil Crackdown

The US plans further sanctions on intermediaries like tankers and broker that facilitate Iran oil sales to China. Will they work?

“We Must Fund Oppositions Properly to Save Democracy”

The Financial Times’ Martin Wolf, like quite a few others, looks for ways to save democracy from itself, as in rule by voters.

How Climate Denial is Fueling a U.S. Homeowners Insurance Crisis and Risking a 2008-Style Financial Meltdown

A climate-change-driven insurance and eventual mortgage/housing price crisis is getting momentum. And unlike 2008, price recovery is unlikely

Trump’s Shock Doctrine: Uncertainty and the Repudiation of Contracts

How Trump’s economic revolution and the uncertainty it is creating are already wreaking havoc.

Chaos Theory: Assessing the Legal Validity of Trump’s Tariffs

A look at the legality of Trump tariffs. Sadly, another proof that international law does not count for much in practice.