kscarbel2

Elon Musk points out that Obama in 2011 talked like a DOGE team member. .

The week of March 3rd was brutal, placing many stocks in buy territory. Though stocks rallied yesterday (Friday), we may expect the market to take another leg down. A century-old stock market indicator, the Dow Theory, supports that. The Dow Theory holds that for any market trend to be valid and sustainable, both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Dow Jones Transportation Average (airlines, railroads, and shippers) must move in the same direction. If industry is booming but the companies that move goods around the country are struggling, something is seriously wrong beneath the surface. Currently, both indexes are falling sharply. As of Friday's close, the Dow Jones Transportation Average has plunged 17.5% from its November peak, placing it nearly in bear market territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen 7.8% from its December high, deepening fears of a broad market correction. This double-barreled decline is a loud and clear warning that the US economy may be sliding into real trouble, despite political reassurances that everything is under control. This week President Trump wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a recession. Transportation stocks are the canary in the coal mine of the economy. If companies that move goods, people, and packages are struggling, it's a sign that demand is falling, and an indicator that consumers and businesses are pulling back. Delta Air Lines has slashed its profit forecast in half, citing weak demand and rising costs. And American Airlines has warned that its Q1 loss will be twice as large as it previously expected. Retailers are saying what we already know, that most Americans are cutting back on purchases. As a risk barometer check, that's not a great backdrop for the overall market. 'To make matters worse, its Dow Theory cousin, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, has also rolled over and violated the pullback lows from January, checking the box for a sell signal as the averages confirm the primary trend of the market is no longer higher.” There is a sense of irony that in a world of flashy algorithms and AI-powered trading, a 100-year-old indicator is the one sounding the alarm. Critics argue the Dow Theory is outdated, pointing out that today's economy is dominated by tech and services and not railroads and factories, noting how the days when transportation stocks could predict the market are long gone. But recent market behavior suggests otherwise. Despite today’s high-tech economy, goods still need to be moved, and the transportation sector remains a vital window into consumer and business demand. And with transportation stocks on pace for their worst weekly drop since September 2022, even the skeptics are taking notice. The stock market, which had already been hammered by tariff concerns, political uncertainty, and signs of slowing growth, may now be facing the prospect of a deepening correction or even a bear market. And yet, if the Dow Theory's warnings come to pass, some high-quality stocks could be available at bargain prices.

Tariffs in Trump’s second term in office As of March 12 Status Country Description In effect Feb. 4 China 10% on all imports › In effect March 4 China Additional 10% on all imports › Partial effect March 6 Canada and Mexico 25% on most goods that do not fall under USMCA trade pact › In effect March 12 World 25% on aluminum and steel › Planned April 2 World Unspecified tariff on all agricultural products Planned April 2 World Unspecified tariff on all foreign cars › Planned April 2 World Tariffs to match rates charged by other countries ›

Reuters U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says a recession would be "worth it" to get President Trump's economic policies in place, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has spoken of a coming period of "detox" and Trump himself says the economy is in "transition." However it plays out, history shows recessions - should it come to that - are costly affairs: The pain is never spread equally, and the outcome - from the length and depth of the downturn to the speed and breadth of recovery - is unpredictable.

Video https://www.rt.com/news/614088-lavrov-bloggers-trump-ukraine/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14459979/listen-audio-DEI-sharing-answers-air-traffic-control-entry-exam.html

President Trump has declared a national emergency on electricity and doubled the tariffs on aluminum and steel from Canada after retaliatory tariffs. The president also threatened to permanently shut down the Canadian auto sector. He said the only thing to make his tariffs stop is for Canada to become the 51st state. The stock market crashed another 500 points as a result and the potential of a recession increases. The increase in tariffs, from 25% to 50%, goes into affect Wednesday. "Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on 'Electricity' coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD." Ontario Premier Doug Ford put a 25% tariff on Canadian electricity to Michigan, New York and Minnesota on Monday in response to earlier tariffs from Trump. Ford is ready to shut the electricity off completely if the US continues to escalate. The president also warned more auto tariffs are coming on April 2nd. He wants Canada to drop its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. dairy and agricultural products. "If other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariffs on Cars coming into the U.S. which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada. The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State. This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear."

Thousands of loans worth $312 million were granted to children during the COVID-19 pandemic, DOGE announced Saturday. It discovered that the Small Business Administration (SBA) had granted nearly 5,600 loans for $312 million to “borrowers whose only listed owner was 11 years old or younger at the time of the loan.” The loans were granted in 2020 and 2021. “While it is possible to have business arrangements where this is legal, that is highly unlikely for these 5,593 loans, as they all also used an SSN with the incorrect name.” DOGE made the announcement when it revealed the SBA had also issued 3,095 loans for $333 million in 2020 and 2021 to borrowers over 115 years old. “In 2020-2021, the SBA issued 3,095 loans, including PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) and EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loan), for $333M to borrowers over 115 years old who were still marked as alive in the Social Security database. In one case, a 157 years old individual received $36k in loans.” https://x.com/DOGE/status/1898587143796338826 https://x.com/DOGE/status/1897039724822315489

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has revoked the security clearances of former top Biden officials and the 51 former intelligence officials who signed the letter calling the Hunter Biden laptop Russian disinformation. Also, Biden is no longer receiving the President’s Daily Brief. Per @POTUS directive, I have revoked security clearances and barred access to classified information for Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Lisa Monaco, Mark Zaid, Norman Eisen, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, and Andrew Weissman, along with the 51 signers of the Hunter Biden “disinformation” letter. The President’s Daily Brief is no longer being provided to former President Biden. President Trump said the signatories “willfully weaponized the gravitas of the Intelligence Community to manipulate the political process and undermine our democratic institutions. This fabrication of the imprimatur of the Intelligence Community to suppress information essential to the American people during a Presidential election is an egregious breach of trust reminiscent of a third world country. And now the faith of Americans in all other patriotic intelligence professionals who are sworn to protect the Nation has been imperiled.” While Blinken did not sign the letter, former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell testified to the House Judiciary Committee on April 4 that Blinken, who was then a Biden campaign adviser, had called him about the laptop story, which triggered Morell to draft the letter.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/10/john-kennedy-debt-limit-trump-agenda-00222755

It's time to begin selectively buying.

President Trump says the US economy faces “a period of transition,” deflecting concerns about the risks of an economic slowdown as his early focus on tariffs and federal job cuts causes market turmoil. Asked whether he’s expecting a recession this year, Trump said, “I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition, because what we’re doing is very big.”

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/03/10/navy-seals-congress-trump-00212473