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BY BRIAN BEUTLER, PRIYANKA ARIBINDI & CROOKED MEDIA Monday, May 13, 2019 |
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| A JACKASS OF ALL TRADE WARS |
| Donald Trump has plunged the United States into another trade war with China that threatens to slow economic growth in the U.S. and maybe the world. But it’s fine because the global economy was so sick of winning.
The Trump administration increased tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods last week after U.S. and Chinese negotiators failed to reach a trade agreement. In the U.S., these costs will be borne by importers of Chinese goods and passed on to consumers (e.g. you).
China quickly retaliated, announcing Monday that it will increase tariffs by the same margin on $60 billion worth of U.S. imports in June. In the U.S., this will reduce Chinese purchases of U.S. agriculture and manufacturing.
Why is this happening?
The Trump Administration says it intends to impose enough economic pain on China that China will either accept a trade deal that includes protections for U.S. intellectual property holders, or watch companies around the world flee to different markets.
A likelier answer is that Donald Trump is lashing out impulsively, seemingly driven by the political dividends he thinks he gets from being “tough” on China—even as the economic consequences of his trade war will be concentrated in parts of the country where his supporters live. Trump pretends these consequences don’t exist, and everyone in his party pretends that there’s nothing wrong with governing this way.
On Sunday, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow admitted “both sides will suffer on this,” which Republican senators from agricultural states have decided to embrace. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) allowed that, “There will be some sacrifices on the part of Americans, I grant you that, but I also would say that sacrifice is pretty minimal compared to the sacrifices that our soldiers make overseas that are fallen heroes that are laid to rest in Arlington make.” So next time you’re upset about literally anything, remember to buck up, because at least you didn’t die in war!
Two ways out of this: an unexpected deal between U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators, or enough economic pain that affected voters start to turn on the GOP. Voting in 2020 might also work, if liberals can settle on a candidate with impeccable email-retention practices. |
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| Over one-million people lost their health insurance coverage last year, leaving a total of 30.4 million Americans uninsured, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of uninsured Americans declined for years under President Obama, but began climbing almost immediately after President Trump took office and started sabotaging the Affordable Care Act. The CDC also reported that the number of Americans with high-deductible plans that require them to pay large sums out of pocket before their insurance coverage kicks in has reached a record high. No wonder support for Medicare-for-All has climbed. But hey, on the bright side, at least measles is back! |
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| The entire GOP leadership has smeared Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) for expressing relief—”a calming feeling”—that European Jews were able to take refuge in Israel after the Holocaust, even though their migration displaced Palestinians. Republicans have lied shamelessly about her comments, in the hope of persuading U.S. Jews that Tlaib claimed the Holocaust itself gave her “a calming feeling.” This whole conversation is the opposite of “a calming feeling.”
President Trump hosted Hungary’s far-right prime minister, Viktor Orbán, at the White House Monday. Orbán has erected a razor-wire fence to keep migrants out of Hungary, and been censured by other E.U. members for openly advocating for a European ethnostate. Trump compared Orbán to himself, calling him “a little bit controversial, but that’s OK.” From Brian: You know what’s antisemitic? The GOP’s apparent belief that Jews won't notice they're all lying about what Rashida Tlaib said, while Trump fluffs the antisemitic, authoritarian prime minister of Hungary.
The Pentagon plans to redirect $1.5 billion from programs for a ballistic missile system and a surveillance system to aid fighter jets in order to build 80 miles of a border wall that Trump intends to build over Congress’s objections, citing a fabricated state of emergency along the southern border. A reminder that Trump’s impeachable conduct didn’t begin when the Mueller report became public.
Two Saudi oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates were sabotaged and significantly damaged. It is not yet known who or what was responsible for the damage, though the U.S. Maritime Administration warned that Iran and its proxies planned to target oil and shipping.
Sweden will reopen its investigation of rape allegations against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, which may complicate U.S. efforts to have him extradited here to be tried for computer hacking and possibly other charges.
Beto O’Rourke will “reintroduc[e]” his presidential campaign by ramping up his national media appearances and offering more policy proposals after his initial entrance into the field failed to produce the same momentum as his 2018 Senate bid. Hey, you’re never gonna land a kickflip on your first try.
Felicity Huffman has pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy for her role in the Varsity Blues college admission scandal.
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| A recent focus group in Sioux City, Iowa found Trump voters love liberal populist economic proposals, like those of Elizabeth Warren—just not when her name is attached to them. All participants strongly supported a plan to cancel up to $50,000 in student debt for people making under $100,000 a year (one of Warren’s signature proposals), and to tax corporations, especially big banks, in order to pay for infrastructure improvements. But they were largely skeptical of or unfamiliar with the 2020 field of Democratic candidates.
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| In response to the largest measles outbreak since the disease was thought to be eliminated two decades ago, Gov Jay Inslee (D-WA) has signed a bill that eliminates exemptions allowing parents in Washington to enroll their unvaccinated children in schools by citing personal or moral objections to vaccines. |
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