6 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

You know tariffs were increased since he's been in office right? All he's done is severely increase tariffs to bring nations to talk about lowering only to lower it but still keep it above what it was before he was in office

34 minutes ago, DrPhilly said:

So you realize your indicators aren't marching toward a victory and you throw up Bill Maher instead, lmfao

What are you talking about? I don't see a sig.

52 minutes ago, Mike030270 said:

You know tariffs were increased since he's been in office right? All he's done is severely increase tariffs to bring nations to talk about lowering only to lower it but still keep it above what it was before he was in office

No he doesn’t know, he only knows what the cult leaders tell him.

Anyone claiming victory, in either direction, over the impact of tariffs this early is completely moronic.

We'll know the impact in around 12 months.

2 hours ago, Nice Work Pal said:

Not sure how familiar you are with Maher but he frequently bashes the left more than he bashes the right. He "goes off” on the left every show or podcast. I dont agree with him on everything but I appreciate him sticking to his guns (btw he’s also a proponent of the 2nd amendment). You should give real time a try sometime you might learn something new

I watched him regularly a few years ago but he got old. He slams third parties a lot too. Some people try to play the both sides card to much.

3 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

Anyone claiming victory, in either direction, over the impact of tariffs this early is completely moronic.

We'll know the impact in around 12 months.

This is true, but I think history tells us what will happen if they remain in place long term. Sure the market is cool with them, but there is a slim chance that paying 15% more for European goods is not going to drive up inflation, which will hurt the middle and lower class the most. I hope I’m wrong.

Hey, if European cars cost 15% more, that means that quality American made cars will only be 14% more expensive.

Think of the savings.

11 minutes ago, Tnt4philly said:

This is true, but I think history tells us what will happen if they remain in place long term. Sure the market is cool with them, but there is a slim chance that paying 15% more for European goods is not going to drive up inflation, which will hurt the middle and lower class the most. I hope I’m wrong.

There are a few potential outcomes, and the reality is it will be a mix of all the below (listed in my order of likelihood/impact):

1. Prices are increased to the consumer, moving inflation higher. This is just basic math, and it's why Powell and the Fed are being cautious about cutting rates. Cutting rates at this point will simply throw gasoline on the fire.

2. Companies will look to cut costs/increase productivity to maintain margins. This will likely be in the form of layoffs or natural attrition. But you will see an impact to employment numbers as automation accelerates.

3. Decreased corporate profits. Some companies will eat a portion of the tariffs to remain competitive and make the bet the policy will be reversed in 4 years. Basically, it's a long term play to gain market share and customer loyalty on the assumption margins will rebound when the tariffs are removed by the next President.

4. Reshoring. This is the least likely outcome for a number of reasons, but mainly the required capital investment in an environment where most people think the tariffs won't be around for the long term. Also, there are simply things that can't be done here.

1 hour ago, Diehardfan said:

You all refusing to give credit is boring me a bit so I'll just throw this in for fun

It sure as F isn't our faults for not believing anything that comes from Trump. As a general rule, anything he touts is a lie and if it sounds to good to be true, it's a total whopper. When he casually tosses out unicorn #'s with no specifics, well, we'd be absolute fools to fall for it

But hey, let's take it piece by piece.

1. 15% tariffs to zero tariffs. This is a stunning victory for Trump's protectionist ambitions. Yes he sucker punches allies to get this, but still, getting Europe to agree to this is unfathomable. Of course the only way it works is by convincing the low tax citizens of the US that a 15% tax is suddenly awesome...which he has done because half his followers are retarded and the other half refuse to correct the retarded ones. and protectionism only works if you build the infrastructure for it and we haven't heard a single concrete plan for that.

2. 150B investment in US energy and another ungodly # in defense. Yeah I'm gonna call BS on this straight up. Remember when China was going to invest something like that in Trump's 1st term and it never happened? With no specifics or timelines I'm going to have see it to believe it because right now I definitely don't.

3. 600B for Trump's sovereign slush fund. AhA! Finally, Trumps 3 card monte for this whole tariffs thing is revealed. THIS is what he was after all along and why his tariff reasons were always so convoluted and directionless. A sovereign fund which we can 1000% assume right now will be under trump's direct administration and not subject to congressional middling. If Trump can sell his base that exporters pay tariffs just imagine the insane shite they (specifically YOU) will believe when he announces those funds will go into X but really end up in his pockets. Imagine how he will lean into those funds to to punish his enemies and tilt entire sectors of the economy to his will. And most of all, imagine how he will put that money to use to keep himself in power because NO WAY IN HELL he gives up this booty to some future POTUS.

It's not 5D chess, it's very easy to follow once you understand he's only it it to enrich himself and stay in power.

9 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

There are a few potential outcomes, and the reality is it will be a mix of all the below (listed in my order of likelihood/impact):

1. Prices are increased to the consumer, moving inflation higher. This is just basic math, and it's why Powell and the Fed are being cautious about cutting rates. Cutting rates at this point will simply throw gasoline on the fire.

2. Companies will look to cut costs/increase productivity to maintain margins. This will likely be in the form of layoffs or natural attrition. But you will see an impact to employment numbers as automation accelerates.

3. Decreased corporate profits. Some companies will eat a portion of the tariffs to remain competitive and make the bet the policy will be reversed in 4 years. Basically, it's a long term play to gain market share and customer loyalty on the assumption margins will rebound when the tariffs are removed by the next President.

4. Reshoring. This is the least likely outcome for a number of reasons, but mainly the required capital investment in an environment where most people think the tariffs won't be around for the long term. Also, there are simply things that can't be done here.

Yeah all of that, but the stock market can chug along because revenues might go down but market share will increase as small business gets crushed. Of all the reversals of the Republican party during Trumpism, maybe the most insidious is how they are murdering the small businesses they once worshipped.

MAGA.

Damn, it really be like that, huh?

16 hours ago, barho said:

You’re another *****. Enjoy your massive increase in your energy bill.

It will go along nicely with the increased tax bill due to lifestyle subsidizing.

You're welcome.

15 hours ago, we_gotta_believe said:

When a bear grylls post is the most intelligible of the bunch.

Ok?

8 hours ago, paco said:

or out to sea.

As long as they aren't placed off shore of Nantucket.

7 hours ago, JohnSnowsHair said:

your mom should be all set then.

6 hours ago, barho said:

Oil is not used for electricity you dope.

I'd ask what the F is wrong with you but based on your response I'm going to go with "a lot".

3 hours ago, Gannan said:

Watching republicans cream themselves over paying more taxes is hilarious.

You're paying more in taxes?

Fire your accountant. You're being scammed.

"I would have thought, and I’ve got to own it, that these tariffs were going to f-----g sink this economy by this time, and they didn’t. How do we deal with that fact? Because that’s the fact."

2 hours ago, dawkins4prez said:

Of course the only way it works is by convincing the low tax citizens of the US that a 15% tax is suddenly awesome...which he has done because half his followers are retarded and the other half refuse to correct the retarded ones.

Yep there's definitely a segment of Republicans that fully understand who gets negatively impacted by consumption taxes but bite their tongue for selfish reasons. What's hilarious is the stupid ones, like the usual suspects here, don't understand they're ultimately the ones footing the bill and actually voted for the privilege of doing so.

24 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Yep there's definitely a segment of Republicans that fully understand who gets negatively impacted by consumption taxes but bite their tongue for selfish reasons. What's hilarious is the stupid ones, like the usual suspects here, don't understand they're ultimately the ones footing the ball and actually voted for the privilege of doing so.

Mmmhmm

Trump's even oppressing the protesters.

You guys should help out. You could double that crowd easily.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/us/politics/air-force-one-trump-cost.html

President Trump makes no secret of his displeasure over the cost of renovating the Federal Reserve headquarters — around $2.5 billion, or even higher by the president’s accounting.

But getting the White House to discuss another of Washington’s expensive renovation projects, the cost of refurbishing a "free” Air Force One from Qatar, is quite another matter.

Officially, and conveniently, the price tag has been classified. But even by Washington standards, where "black budgets” are often used as an excuse to avoid revealing the cost of outdated spy satellites and lavish end-of-year parties, the techniques being used to hide the cost of Mr. Trump’s pet project are inventive.

Which may explain why no one wants to discuss a mysterious, $934 million transfer of funds from one of the Pentagon’s most over-budget, out-of-control projects — the modernization of America’s aging, ground-based nuclear missiles.

In recent weeks, congressional budget sleuths have come to think that amount, slipped into an obscure Pentagon document sent to Capitol Hill as a "transfer” to an unnamed classified project, almost certainly includes the renovation of the new, gold-adorned Air Force One that Mr. Trump desperately wants in the air before his term is over. (It is not clear if the entire transfer will be devoted to stripping the new Air Force One back to its airframe, but Air Force officials privately acknowledge dipping into nuclear modernization funds for the complex project.)

49 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

Mmmhmm

Found one

54 minutes ago, Mike030270 said:

In recent weeks, congressional budget sleuths have come to think that amount, slipped into an obscure Pentagon document sent to Capitol Hill as a "transfer” to an unnamed classified project, almost certainly includes the renovation of the new, gold-adorned Air Force One that Mr. Trump desperately wants in the air before his term is over.

I'd like them to "know" so we all know.