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.
@Crash. “ I can’t cheer for either dog in the fight. “ Crash. We all know how you feel about the orange regime. As horrible as that regime is,, and it is getting worse by the hour, how could you not cheer for the dog that is fighting the regime you claim to hate so much? The most mediocre blue has to be light years better than the orange team.
I am absolutely certain that when King Donald sits atop his throne, that he truly believes that he extrudes gold. Why the entire throne room is so fancified!
From Heather Cox Richardson's Letters from an American newsletter.
"Tonight Trump appeared to be trying to keep pressure on the Republicans to kill the filibuster or the Democrats to cave by tightening the screws on the American people. The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to stay the order of U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell to distribute Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by the end of today. This puts the administration in the position of going to the Supreme Court for permission to stop the distribution of food benefits for 42 million Americans."
"While senators say they will stay in Washington and work to end the shutdown, Trump is following House speaker Johnson’s lead and getting out of town, heading to Florida for the weekend."
The Trump administration is using SNAP benefit recipients as political pawns. Let them eat cake! Trump can not even be bothered to stay in Washington, DC while the government is shutdown¹. These actions illustrate Trump's total lack of character and his gross negligence towards the electorate. The country would be much better off if he just remained at Mar-a-Lago indefinitely!
¹ Republicans bear primary responsibility since they control the White House and both houses of Congress.
¹ Republicans bear primary responsibility since they control the White House and both houses of Congress.
But you'll never get them to SEE and ADMIT it. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness." Matthew 23:27.
Helping the little guy again! So much empathy. Starve them and take away their healthcare. Tax the crap out of them with tariffs feeding inflation. Then when it starts to backfire and hurt the party, offer to give them back a portion of what you took. So generous.
"The Trump administration recently instructed states to “immediately undo” any measures taken to provide full food stamp benefits to low-income households through SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). This directive was issued via a late-night memo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and threatened financial penalties for states that did not comply. The situation stems from a federal judge’s ruling that had ordered the administration to distribute full SNAP benefits for November during the ongoing government shutdown. Many states rushed to comply and began issuing these benefits, but the Supreme Court soon paused the judge’s order to allow further review, creating significant uncertainty for nearly one in eight Americans who rely on SNAP. The administration instructed states to revert to partial payments and warned that benefits issued in full for November were “unauthorized.” This ongoing battle over SNAP funding has led to instability in the nation’s largest anti-hunger initiative, legal confusion, and uncertainty for millions of food-insecure families."
No soup for you! Even if you voted for me. Your kids can go hungry, so we can dismantle the ACA, despite your needing that too. "K" is for "King". And for "K-shaped" economy. Making Authoritarians Great Again.
"I am supportive of everything Trump is doing on the world stage, but grocery prices are not coming down. They are going up. Groceries are eating up my budget. I need the administration to acknowledge and fix this. @ JDVance, please help. There are millions of Americans struggling."
"I don't care about Ukraine or the Middle East. We Americans need help here at HOME!! We are drowning in escalating inflation! My health insurance is doubling for 2026, utilities skyrocketing, not to mention food. We voted for Trump to get this fixed!! HELP YOUR PEOPLE 1ST."
"President Trump grocery prices are killing us out here," another said. "We need help! We've supported you this whole time we need relief at the grocery store!"
"I stand with President Trump, please though help us with inflation. It's out of control."
"I'm a big Trump supporter but can you please let the administration know that grocery prices are out of control and medical cost[s] are unbearable. Let's help the every day working Americans."
.....And you people were utterly unable to see that this is what would happen if he were elected again? Eggs too dear? Get some chickens for your backyard. (Nancy Ray-guns: "Homeless? What's wrong with you? Just buy a house!") Ya, let them eat cake. Churchill (again:) "The best argument against democracy is a 5-minute conversation with the average (MAGA) voter."
...Oh, yeah; I almost forgot: KILL the Electoral College!
I saw a special on farmers that are being killed, they still trust Trump and think he's going to make things better in the long run. You can't fix stupid.
It's wasn't a good week for millions of people in the U.S. who are going hungry! From Heather Cox Richardson's Letters from an American newsletter.
“Saturday, Patrick Penn, the deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees SNAP, sent a memo to the states saying that '[t]o the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized. Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025…. [F]ailure to comply with this memorandum may result in USDA taking various actions, including cancellation of the Federal share of State administrative costs and holding States liable for any overissuances that result from the noncompliance.'”
“'Yikes,' economic editor at The Bulwark Catherine Rampell wrote. 'Astonishing how hard this administration is working to keep people hungry. It’s clear they are trying [to] maximize public suffering, in hopes of getting people to blame Dem[ocrat]s for that suffering. But it’s transparently the White House working overtime to keep the suffering going!'”
Can the government shutdown again at the end of January if the Republicans do not negotiate on heath care to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credit?
Too late, then. Subsidies expire at the end of '25. There's a lot that needs improving with the ACA. But the Repugnants will chip away from every angle to kill it, rather than just provide everyone Medicare For All. How STOOPID is this country???
"Can the government shutdown again at the end of January if the Republicans do not negotiate on heath care to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credit?"
I take it that this was a serious question. I would hold no hope at all of that happening when these bastards can't even uphold their oath of office to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States.
Can't wait to get my imaginary $2000 tariff check to go along with my imaginary $5000 Doge check so I can buy the imaginary $2.00/gallon gas. How stupid do you have to be to believe someone who lies everyday. ADD: Just read, If I'm an ATC I'm getting an imaginary $10,000 check!!
Near-total surrender (NYT says what they just voted on includes a provision to hire back the fed employees fired [not just temporarily laid off] during the shutdown). So much for "moderate" D's giving as much as a rat's ass about affordable health care. The timidity doesn't exactly bode well for getting the country back to something sane after this administration is history.
Hi @Mona, yes, failure to pass a full year budget or another continuing resolution by the end of Jan. would mean a shutdown for whatever departments don't already have a full year budget. Agriculture does, so the food aid mess may not happen again, but I dunno about any others.
And of course with anything that passes, there's the wild card of what the Dumpster administration will deign to spend for the appropriated purpose.
A NOAA retiree/substack guy found this language Rs put in the continuing resolution that's about to pass. It hamstrings agencies far more than any previous continuing resolution has ever done. The usual CR has allowed agencies to operate at the same funding level and for the same programs of the previous fiscal year. (Don't know what's in Sec. 106 that wouldn't be hamstrung, but it's probably DHS and DOD, maybe DOJ for all those fetid prosecutions, etc.)
SEC. 109. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, except section 106, for those programs that would otherwise have high initial rates of operation or complete distribution of appropriations at the beginning of fiscal year 2026 because of distributions of funding to States, foreign countries, grantees, or others, such high initial rates of operation or complete distribution shall not be made, and no grants shall be awarded for such programs funded by this Act that would impinge on final funding prerogatives.
SEC. 110. This Act shall be implemented so that only the most limited funding action of that permitted in the Act shall be taken in order to provide for continuation of projects and activities.
The longest shutdown is about to end — one caused by the Democrats, which led millions to suffer. It’s clear the Democrats aren’t focused on finding real solutions; their actions seem driven by Trump Derangement Syndrome, resistance for its own sake, and a desire to create chaos.
When Trump takes action against narcotics networks in the U.S. and abroad, Democrats respond with lawsuits and helping the narcos. When he tries to address crime in Chicago, the governor and mayor resist instead of tackling the issue. It’s just nuts.
Two Facts Remain 1) The Affordable Care Act (ACA) The ACA was poorly designed legislation passed without any Republican support. Within just a few years, people relying on it saw their premiums double or even triple. I personally spoke with at least a dozen small business owners who confirmed the same.
Subsidies don’t fix the core issues; they only hide them. Healthcare in America is complex, but we could start with three steps:
Lower drug prices — as many other countries have done. Eliminate PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) — they add cost without value. Reduce lobbying power — though realistically, that’s nearly impossible in America.
The only way forward would be to create an independent committee of true experts, free from political or lobbying influence. Unfortunately, I doubt that will ever happen.
Imagine if Trump offered the Democrats the chance to create a bipartisan committee to address the shortcomings of the ACA. I’m certain the Democrats would refuse to cooperate.
2) Democratic Leadership Today’s Democratic leadership consists of figures like AOC, Mamdani, and Bernie Sanders. We’ll soon see how their brand of socialism addresses New York City’s challenges. Their usual solution — “tax the rich and hand out freebies” — might sound appealing, but it doesn’t solve underlying problems. New Jersey residents will likely discover in the coming years that old issues persist under the same policies. I’d welcome a changing of the guard: Schumer and Hakim out, with AOC, Mamdani, and Bernie stepping up.
Meanwhile, Trump has struck a deal to lower the cost of weight-loss drugs — a concrete step toward addressing healthcare costs. Markets up, Dems in tears. Funny how fast they go from 'democracy dies' to 'please make people suffer again.'
The usual TDS posts will follow. If I don’t see at least 20 responses after mine, I’ll be disappointed.
Comments
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/8/trump-says-us-to-boycott-south-africa-g20-summit-over-white-genocide
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/7/un-warns-gaza-aid-still-too-slow-as-israel-restricts-supplies-despite-truce
"Tonight Trump appeared to be trying to keep pressure on the Republicans to kill the filibuster
or the Democrats to cave by tightening the screws on the American people.
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to stay the order of U.S. District Court Judge
John McConnell to distribute Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits
by the end of today. This puts the administration in the position of going to the Supreme Court
for permission to stop the distribution of food benefits for 42 million Americans."
"While senators say they will stay in Washington and work to end the shutdown,
Trump is following House speaker Johnson’s lead and getting out of town,
heading to Florida for the weekend."
The Trump administration is using SNAP benefit recipients as political pawns.
Let them eat cake!
Trump can not even be bothered to stay in Washington, DC while the government is shutdown¹.
These actions illustrate Trump's total lack of character and his gross negligence towards the electorate.
The country would be much better off if he just remained at Mar-a-Lago indefinitely!
¹ Republicans bear primary responsibility since they control the White House and both houses of Congress.
But you'll never get them to SEE and ADMIT it.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness." Matthew 23:27.
"ACA premiums skyrocket"
Helping the little guy again! So much empathy. Starve them and take away their healthcare. Tax the crap out of them with tariffs feeding inflation. Then when it starts to backfire and hurt the party, offer to give them back a portion of what you took. So generous.
"The Trump administration recently instructed states to “immediately undo” any measures taken to provide full food stamp benefits to low-income households through SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). This directive was issued via a late-night memo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and threatened financial penalties for states that did not comply.
The situation stems from a federal judge’s ruling that had ordered the administration to distribute full SNAP benefits for November during the ongoing government shutdown. Many states rushed to comply and began issuing these benefits, but the Supreme Court soon paused the judge’s order to allow further review, creating significant uncertainty for nearly one in eight Americans who rely on SNAP.
The administration instructed states to revert to partial payments and warned that benefits issued in full for November were “unauthorized.” This ongoing battle over SNAP funding has led to instability in the nation’s largest anti-hunger initiative, legal confusion, and uncertainty for millions of food-insecure families."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/5-tweets-trump-supporters-going-165201457.html
"I am supportive of everything Trump is doing on the world stage, but grocery prices are not coming down. They are going up. Groceries are eating up my budget. I need the administration to acknowledge and fix this. @ JDVance, please help. There are millions of Americans struggling."
"I don't care about Ukraine or the Middle East. We Americans need help here at HOME!! We are drowning in escalating inflation! My health insurance is doubling for 2026, utilities skyrocketing, not to mention food. We voted for Trump to get this fixed!! HELP YOUR PEOPLE 1ST."
"President Trump grocery prices are killing us out here," another said. "We need help! We've supported you this whole time we need relief at the grocery store!"
"I stand with President Trump, please though help us with inflation. It's out of control."
"I'm a big Trump supporter but can you please let the administration know that grocery prices are out of control and medical cost[s] are unbearable. Let's help the every day working Americans."
...Oh, yeah; I almost forgot: KILL the Electoral College!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-unveil-key-piece-shutdown-puzzle-bid-reopen-government
https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/trump-says-americans-will-receive-2k-each-from-tariff-push/
From Heather Cox Richardson's Letters from an American newsletter.
“Saturday, Patrick Penn, the deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services
in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees SNAP, sent a memo to the states
saying that '[t]o the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized.
Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025….
[F]ailure to comply with this memorandum may result in USDA taking various actions,
including cancellation of the Federal share of State administrative costs and holding States liable
for any overissuances that result from the noncompliance.'”
“'Yikes,' economic editor at The Bulwark Catherine Rampell wrote.
'Astonishing how hard this administration is working to keep people hungry.
It’s clear they are trying [to] maximize public suffering,
in hopes of getting people to blame Dem[ocrat]s for that suffering.
But it’s transparently the White House working overtime to keep the suffering going!'”
I take it that this was a serious question. I would hold no hope at all of that happening when these bastards can't even uphold their oath of office to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-10/democrats-concede-shutdown-fight-without-health-care-win-in-hand?srnd=homepage-americas
Very stupid.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_or_misleading_statements_by_Donald_Trump
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/list/?speaker=donald-trump&ruling=false
And of course with anything that passes, there's the wild card of what the Dumpster administration will deign to spend for the appropriated purpose.
When Trump takes action against narcotics networks in the U.S. and abroad, Democrats respond with lawsuits and helping the narcos. When he tries to address crime in Chicago, the governor and mayor resist instead of tackling the issue. It’s just nuts.
Two Facts Remain
1) The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The ACA was poorly designed legislation passed without any Republican support. Within just a few years, people relying on it saw their premiums double or even triple. I personally spoke with at least a dozen small business owners who confirmed the same.
Subsidies don’t fix the core issues; they only hide them.
Healthcare in America is complex, but we could start with three steps:
Lower drug prices — as many other countries have done.
Eliminate PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) — they add cost without value.
Reduce lobbying power — though realistically, that’s nearly impossible in America.
The only way forward would be to create an independent committee of true experts, free from political or lobbying influence. Unfortunately, I doubt that will ever happen.
Imagine if Trump offered the Democrats the chance to create a bipartisan committee to address the shortcomings of the ACA. I’m certain the Democrats would refuse to cooperate.
2) Democratic Leadership
Today’s Democratic leadership consists of figures like AOC, Mamdani, and Bernie Sanders. We’ll soon see how their brand of socialism addresses New York City’s challenges. Their usual solution — “tax the rich and hand out freebies” — might sound appealing, but it doesn’t solve underlying problems.
New Jersey residents will likely discover in the coming years that old issues persist under the same policies.
I’d welcome a changing of the guard: Schumer and Hakim out, with AOC, Mamdani, and Bernie stepping up.
Meanwhile, Trump has struck a deal to lower the cost of weight-loss drugs — a concrete step toward addressing healthcare costs.
Markets up, Dems in tears. Funny how fast they go from 'democracy dies' to 'please make people suffer again.'
The usual TDS posts will follow. If I don’t see at least 20 responses after mine, I’ll be disappointed.