Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
When someone gets elected on promises of affordability, then absolves responsibility for that promise, while making it worse, they need to be held responsible.
And who didn't see this coming? Massive import taxation? The only way that would make sense is if the populace was prepared to PAY THE PRICE. And re-home manufacturing, expecting huge price increases.
May I provide a suggestion? Costa Rica is well known for high-quality Arabica coffee. Quality coffee purchased from a plantation or a reputable local roaster paired with a chorreador (small traditional coffee maker) would make for a wonderful gift.
@FD1000. Another admirer on another channel (this one by the name of Norbert)? Shocking.
(We had a guy posting here for years whose specialty was telling us what we should have done last year. I heard that he had even started a newsletter on the subject, but that might have been a joke. Good riddance!)
I am sure it has nothing to do with the constant spotlight you shine on yourself.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on Trump's tariffs imposed via the IEEPA. No other president has used the IEEPA (passed in 1977) as a means to justify tariffs. The Trump administration will unfortunately use other regulations to impose tariffs (with the same effect?) if the Supreme Court rules against them. But if this occurs, it could get really messy for the adminstration...
"On Sunday, Trump appeared to pressure the Supreme Court to let his tariffs stand, despite the fact that the Constitution gives to Congress alone the power to regulate tariffs. Trump’s justification for seizing the power to impose them is the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which permits a president to regulate financial transactions after declaring a national emergency. Trump declared a national economic emergency in April before launching his tariff war."
"Last night, on social media, Trump tried to position tariffs as central to national security, an area where the right-wing justices on the Supreme Court have tended to uphold the president’s authority. He posted, 'While the United States has other methods of charging TARIFFS against foreign countries, many of whom have, for YEARS, TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OUR NATION, the current method of Tariffing before the United States Supreme Court is far more DIRECT, LESS CUMBERSOME, and MUCH FASTER, all ingredients necessary for A STRONG AND DECISIVE NATIONAL SECURITY RESULT. SPEED, POWER, AND CERTAINTY ARE, AT ALL TIMES, IMPORTANT FACTORS IN GETTING THE JOB DONE IN A LASTING AND VICTORIOUS MANNER.'"
"Trump continued: 'I have settled 8 Wars in 10 months because of the rights clearly given to the President of the United States. If countries didn’t think these rights existed, they would have said so, LOUD AND CLEAR! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP'"
Comments: Donald, why do you "shout" by using caps excessively? A true statesman does not need to use this mechanism in order to communicate effectively. Also, you did not settle 8 wars in 10 months and will not be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize!
Many U.S. farmers voted to elect Donald J. Trump in 2024. Trump's tariffs have had a devastating impact on farmer's livelihoods!
"Trump’s tariffs have hit farmers particularly hard, making imported goods like machinery and fertilizer more expensive while destroying the markets for products like corn, soybeans, and wheat to create what economists estimate could be losses of $44 billion in net cash income for farmers from their 2025–2026 crops."
"Today Trump announced the administration intends to give farmers one-time payments totalling $12 billion. At an event at the White House, Trump told reporters: '[W]e love our farmers. And as you know, the farmers like me, because, you know, based on, based on voting trends, you could call it voting trends or anything else, but they’re great people.'"
"Utah County Democratic Party chair Darin Self commented: 'The President of the United States unilaterally levied a tax on all of us and is redistributing our taxes to a core segment of his supporters.' 'A bailout is like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound,' corn and soybean farmer John Bartman said on a press call for the Democratic National Committee in mid-October. 'Government bailouts do not make up for our loss of income. We don’t want a bailout. We want markets for our crops. We want to be able to work hard every year and enjoy the fruits of our labor and know that we did it on our own.'”
"Administration officials are calling the program the 'Farm Bridge Assistance' program, saying it is designed to help farmers until Trump’s economic policies become successful, a promise Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins echoed later in the day when she told Larry Kudlow of the Fox News Channel: 'The relief is coming…. It really is a golden age just right around the corner.'"
Comments: Trump's tariffs, to no one's surprise, were imposed without careful consideration. After the negative impact to farmers became obvious (why did it take so long?), a bailout is announced in an attempt to appease this important constituency. Most farmers don't want a bailout — they want continued access to foreign markets and the ability to earn a living based on the fruits of their labor! Administration officials are calling for a "golden age" that is "just around the corner." These snake-oil salesman/saleswomen will promise the world while trying to deceive the naive among us.
Will you be supporting Donald J. Trump's nomination for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize? Are you going to stand by your glorious leader during this critical time? After all, Trump, — almost single-handedly — stopped 8 wars in 10 months! Who could be more deserving?
"Ironically, Trump has declared war on Venezuela, without congressional authorization — causing the death so far of at least 87 people bombed by American military jets targeting vessels allegedly carrying drugs into the United States."
"Trump has designated a Venezuelan criminal group — Cartel de los Soles — as a Foreign Terrorist Organization led by Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. Yet analysts have pointed out that the Cartel de los Soles is not a hierarchical group but an umbrella term used to describe corrupt Venezuelan officials who have allowed cocaine to transit through the country."
"He doesn’t seem to be particularly upset about cocaine trafficking. While he’s bombing small vessels in the Caribbean allegedly for smuggling fentanyl into the United States, Trump is pardoning Honduras’ former president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of trafficking large amounts of cocaine into the United States."
"Both Trump’s absurd renaming of the U.S. Institute of Peace and the equally absurd FIFA award are parts of Trump’s campaign to get the Nobel Peace Prize — something he has coveted since Barack Obama was awarded it in 2009 (anything Obama got credited with, Trump wants to discredit or match)."
"According to Alfred Nobel’s will, the Peace Prize is awarded to the person who in the preceding year 'shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.'"
Actually, Trump may deserve at least part of the Nobel prize (a semi Nobel?) for having "done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations". He has succeeded in driving most of the European nations closer together in their reaction to his constant attacks upon them.
Actually, Trump may deserve at least part of the Nobel prize (a semi Nobel?) for having "done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations". He has succeeded in driving most of the European nations closer together in their reaction to his constant attacks upon them.
Great observation! A semi Nobel for someone who is often semiconscious...
"Donald Trump’s mental decline has gotten worse. Why is the media only barely starting to report on it? And why won’t they ask who’s really making the decisions in the White House?"
"In addition to the Medical, I have done something that no other President has done, on three separate occasions, the last one being recently, by taking what is known as a Cognitive Examination, something which few people would be able to do very well, including those working at The New York Times, and I ACED all three of them in front of large numbers of doctors and experts, most of whom I do not know. I have been told that few people have been able to 'ace' this Examination and, in fact, most do very poorly, which is why many other Presidents have decided not to take it at all. Despite all of this, the time and work involved, The New York Times, and some others, like to pretend that I am 'slowing up,' am maybe not as sharp as I once was, or am in poor physical health, knowing that it is not true, and knowing that I work very hard, probably harder than I have ever worked before. I will know when I am 'slowing up,' but it’s not now! After all of the work I have done with Medical Exams, Cognitive Exams, and everything else, I actually believe it’s seditious, perhaps even treasonous, for The New York Times, and others, to consistently do FAKE reports in order to libel and demean 'THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.' They are true Enemies of the People, and we should do something about it. They have inaccurately reported on all of my Election Results and, in fact, were forced to apologize on much of what they wrote. The best thing that could happen to this Country would be if The New York Times would cease publication because they are a horrible, biased, and untruthful 'source' of information. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
Comments: Bolding added for emphasis. It's "seditious" or "treasonous" whenever someone makes a statement that Trump disagrees with? Me thinks El Presidente's orange skin is much too thin. This deranged reprobate has probably coerced "his DOJ" to file yet another frivolous lawsuit against the NYT!
Note: A federal judge threw out Trump's prior $15B lawsuit against the New York Times stating in part: “As every lawyer knows (or is presumed to know), a complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective."
"We all know by now that whenever Trump is cornered, he deflects attention. He distracts the public from whatever is causing him problems by doing something even bigger and more outrageous, like a magician diverting an audience while he hides the rabbit."
"Trump is now cornered, big time. His polls are plummeting, Voters are frustrated with his handling of affordability. He claims he deserves an 'A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus' on the economy but most disagree. Prices continue to soar."
"Congressional Republicans are in revolt. GOP hardliners are upset with Trump’s 'peace' plan for Ukraine, which looks like what Putin has wanted all along. Isolationists are angry about his intervention in Venezuela. Others want to know about the bombing of vessels allegedly smuggling drugs into the U.S., including the second strike that killed two survivors."
"Other Republicans are fuming over Trump’s foot-dragging over release of the Jeffrey Epstein files."
"Democratic candidates swept last month’s off-year elections and performed better than usual in last Tuesday’s House race in a bright-red Tennessee district."
"So what will Trump do to divert attention from these mounting failures?"
"Democratic candidates swept last month’s off-year elections and performed better than usual in last Tuesday’s House race in a bright-red Tennessee district."
Comments
And who didn't see this coming? Massive import taxation? The only way that would make sense is if the populace was prepared to PAY THE PRICE. And re-home manufacturing, expecting huge price increases.
Anything else is simply incoherent policy.
May I provide a suggestion?
Costa Rica is well known for high-quality Arabica coffee.
Quality coffee purchased from a plantation or a reputable local roaster
paired with a chorreador (small traditional coffee maker) would make for a wonderful gift.
No other president has used the IEEPA (passed in 1977) as a means to justify tariffs.
The Trump administration will unfortunately use other regulations to impose tariffs
(with the same effect?) if the Supreme Court rules against them.
But if this occurs, it could get really messy for the adminstration...
"On Sunday, Trump appeared to pressure the Supreme Court to let his tariffs stand, despite the fact that the Constitution gives to Congress alone the power to regulate tariffs. Trump’s justification for seizing the power to impose them is the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which permits a president to regulate financial transactions after declaring a national emergency. Trump declared a national economic emergency in April before launching his tariff war."
"Last night, on social media, Trump tried to position tariffs as central to national security, an area where the right-wing justices on the Supreme Court have tended to uphold the president’s authority. He posted, 'While the United States has other methods of charging TARIFFS against foreign countries, many of whom have, for YEARS, TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OUR NATION, the current method of Tariffing before the United States Supreme Court is far more DIRECT, LESS CUMBERSOME, and MUCH FASTER, all ingredients necessary for A STRONG AND DECISIVE NATIONAL SECURITY RESULT. SPEED, POWER, AND CERTAINTY ARE, AT ALL TIMES, IMPORTANT FACTORS IN GETTING THE JOB DONE IN A LASTING AND VICTORIOUS MANNER.'"
"Trump continued: 'I have settled 8 Wars in 10 months because of the rights clearly given to the President of the United States. If countries didn’t think these rights existed, they would have said so, LOUD AND CLEAR! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP'"
Comments: Donald, why do you "shout" by using caps excessively?
A true statesman does not need to use this mechanism in order to communicate effectively.
Also, you did not settle 8 wars in 10 months and will not be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize!
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/december-8-2025
Many U.S. farmers voted to elect Donald J. Trump in 2024.
Trump's tariffs have had a devastating impact on farmer's livelihoods!
"Trump’s tariffs have hit farmers particularly hard, making imported goods like machinery and fertilizer more expensive while destroying the markets for products like corn, soybeans, and wheat to create what economists estimate could be losses of $44 billion in net cash income for farmers from their 2025–2026 crops."
"Today Trump announced the administration intends to give farmers one-time payments totalling $12 billion. At an event at the White House, Trump told reporters: '[W]e love our farmers. And as you know, the farmers like me, because, you know, based on, based on voting trends, you could call it voting trends or anything else, but they’re great people.'"
"Utah County Democratic Party chair Darin Self commented: 'The President of the United States unilaterally levied a tax on all of us and is redistributing our taxes to a core segment of his supporters.' 'A bailout is like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound,' corn and soybean farmer John Bartman said on a press call for the Democratic National Committee in mid-October. 'Government bailouts do not make up for our loss of income. We don’t want a bailout. We want markets for our crops. We want to be able to work hard every year and enjoy the fruits of our labor and know that we did it on our own.'”
"Administration officials are calling the program the 'Farm Bridge Assistance' program, saying it is designed to help farmers until Trump’s economic policies become successful, a promise Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins echoed later in the day when she told Larry Kudlow of the Fox News Channel: 'The relief is coming…. It really is a golden age just right around the corner.'"
Comments: Trump's tariffs, to no one's surprise, were imposed without careful consideration.
After the negative impact to farmers became obvious (why did it take so long?),
a bailout is announced in an attempt to appease this important constituency.
Most farmers don't want a bailout — they want continued access to foreign markets
and the ability to earn a living based on the fruits of their labor!
Administration officials are calling for a "golden age" that is "just around the corner."
These snake-oil salesman/saleswomen will promise the world while trying to deceive the naive among us.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/december-8-2025
Will you be supporting Donald J. Trump's nomination for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize?
Are you going to stand by your glorious leader during this critical time?
After all, Trump, — almost single-handedly — stopped 8 wars in 10 months!
Who could be more deserving?
"Ironically, Trump has declared war on Venezuela, without congressional authorization — causing the death so far of at least 87 people bombed by American military jets targeting vessels allegedly carrying drugs into the United States."
"Trump has designated a Venezuelan criminal group — Cartel de los Soles — as a Foreign Terrorist Organization led by Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. Yet analysts have pointed out that the Cartel de los Soles is not a hierarchical group but an umbrella term used to describe corrupt Venezuelan officials who have allowed cocaine to transit through the country."
"He doesn’t seem to be particularly upset about cocaine trafficking. While he’s bombing small vessels in the Caribbean allegedly for smuggling fentanyl into the United States, Trump is pardoning Honduras’ former president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of trafficking large amounts of cocaine into the United States."
"Both Trump’s absurd renaming of the U.S. Institute of Peace and the equally absurd FIFA award are parts of Trump’s campaign to get the Nobel Peace Prize — something he has coveted since Barack Obama was awarded it in 2009 (anything Obama got credited with, Trump wants to discredit or match)."
"According to Alfred Nobel’s will, the Peace Prize is awarded to the person who in the preceding year 'shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.'"
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/whos-the-last-person-in-the-world
A semi Nobel for someone who is often semiconscious...
Connecting dots that don't connect.
"Donald Trump’s mental decline has gotten worse.
Why is the media only barely starting to report on it?
And why won’t they ask who’s really making the decisions in the White House?"
"In addition to the Medical, I have done something that no other President has done, on three separate occasions, the last one being recently, by taking what is known as a Cognitive Examination, something which few people would be able to do very well, including those working at The New York Times, and I ACED all three of them in front of large numbers of doctors and experts, most of whom I do not know. I have been told that few people have been able to 'ace' this Examination and, in fact, most do very poorly, which is why many other Presidents have decided not to take it at all. Despite all of this, the time and work involved, The New York Times, and some others, like to pretend that I am 'slowing up,' am maybe not as sharp as I once was, or am in poor physical health, knowing that it is not true, and knowing that I work very hard, probably harder than I have ever worked before. I will know when I am 'slowing up,' but it’s not now! After all of the work I have done with Medical Exams, Cognitive Exams, and everything else, I actually believe it’s seditious, perhaps even treasonous, for The New York Times, and others, to consistently do FAKE reports in order to libel and demean 'THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.' They are true Enemies of the People, and we should do something about it. They have inaccurately reported on all of my Election Results and, in fact, were forced to apologize on much of what they wrote. The best thing that could happen to this Country would be if The New York Times would cease publication because they are a horrible, biased, and untruthful 'source' of information. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
Comments: Bolding added for emphasis. It's "seditious" or "treasonous" whenever someone
makes a statement that Trump disagrees with? Me thinks El Presidente's orange skin is much too thin.
This deranged reprobate has probably coerced "his DOJ" to file yet another frivolous lawsuit against the NYT!
Note: A federal judge threw out Trump's prior $15B lawsuit against the New York Times stating in part:
“As every lawyer knows (or is presumed to know), a complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective."
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115692843128539904
He distracts the public from whatever is causing him problems by doing something even bigger
and more outrageous, like a magician diverting an audience while he hides the rabbit."
"Trump is now cornered, big time. His polls are plummeting, Voters are frustrated with his handling of affordability. He claims he deserves an 'A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus' on the economy but most disagree. Prices continue to soar."
"Congressional Republicans are in revolt. GOP hardliners are upset with Trump’s 'peace' plan for Ukraine, which looks like what Putin has wanted all along. Isolationists are angry about his intervention in Venezuela. Others want to know about the bombing of vessels allegedly smuggling drugs into the U.S., including the second strike that killed two survivors."
"Other Republicans are fuming over Trump’s foot-dragging over release of the Jeffrey Epstein files."
"Democratic candidates swept last month’s off-year elections and performed better than usual in last Tuesday’s House race in a bright-red Tennessee district."
"So what will Trump do to divert attention from these mounting failures?"
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/office-hours-what-will-trump-do-to
Miami Mayoral race:
Dec 9 (Reuters) - Democrat Eileen Higgins became the first member of her party in nearly three decades elected mayor of Miami on Tuesday, defeating a Republican backed by President Donald Trump in a Hispanic-majority city in the heart of his Florida stronghold.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrat-favored-win-miami-mayor-race-latest-test-us-voter-sentiment-2025-12-09/