Category: Politics, Religion & Money

If I have Trump Derangement Syndrome, it’s because Trump is deranged. Donald keeps acting out the one success he had in life, independent of his father, prior to entering politics — saying “you’re fired!” on The Apprentice.

He doesn’t like the latest employment data, so what did he do? He fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner.

https://econbrowser.com/archives/2025/08/august-1-2025-a-day-that-will-live-in-statistical-infamy

Trump should be pleased that the numbers show a weakness in job creation. Not only could it motivate the Fed to give Trump the lower interest rates that he wants, Trump could claim justification in saying Jay Powell always acts too late.

I’ll wait a few minutes before posting this to see how the stock market finishes the day/week.

waiting… waiting… and the results are out, or are they in?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 542 points, or 1.2%. The S&P 500 shed 1.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite dipped 2.2%.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/31/stock-market-today-live-updates.html

How long will Anna Gomez remain an FCC commissioner after this interview on defunded PBS?

WGBH in Boston produces the series American Experience. I recently wrote about its “Mr. Polaroid” documentary. Looking at the series channel on YouTube, there are quite a few programs that the Trump administration would consider “woke.”

https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanExperiencePBS

Because of loathsome Trump, WGBH must cut back and American Experience is a casualty of those cuts.

“The 13 employees worked on the “American Experience” documentaries and further production of the series had been halted as of Tuesday.”

https://www.boston.com/news/media/2025/07/24/gbh-layoffs-defunded-sign/

A very worthwhile chat with former Fed Chair and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

First there was the partisan propaganda contained in a fawning message from Social Security about the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Now there’s this from the Medicare:

Douglas,

I’m Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Medicare program, and I’m excited to introduce my new email series to help you stay healthy. As a doctor, I believe simple daily habits, like smart food choices and regular exercise, can help keep you healthier for longer and prevent future health problems.

One of the simplest ways to start is walking! Just 30 minutes of walking a day can:

Lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes

Help manage your weight

Strengthen your bones and muscles, and reduce the risk of falls and injuries

Boost your mood and mental well-being

If 30 minutes a day is more than you can do right now, start slowly and gradually increase your time and distance. Remember to wear sturdy shoes and warm up before your walk.

Talk with your doctor during your yearly wellness visit about how walking might fit into your personalized prevention plan. I encourage you to take that first step. Even a short walk today is a step toward better health tomorrow.

Stay well,

Dr. Oz

Dr. Oz is playing it very safe with this gentle advice. There’s an option to unsubscribe from his “stay healthy” series, and I might do that; but first I’m interested in seeing if any quack medical claims from his TV show start creeping into these messages.

https://www.factcheck.org/2022/01/dr-fauci-still-treats-patients-contrary-to-dr-ozs-claim/