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.
Article I, Section 4, Clause I of the U.S. Constitution leaves most election decisions up to the states:
"The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives,
shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature there…
AI may not currently be very effective when analyzing markets.
Its failure to recognize obvious recent events is disconcerting.
https://www.morningstar.com/markets/ai-can-do-many-things-market-analysis-isnt-one-them-yet
"A freaking decade later, and another promise unfulfilled.
The maga faithful duped by the promise of affordability, every single time!
Health care for many millions is demonstrably worse, since GOP took an ax to the ACA."
How can so many people be …
Firms must have three actively managed OEFs or ETFs in Lipper's general U.S. stock category
and at least one fund in both the world equity and mixed-asset categories to be included in Barron's rankings.
They must also offer at least two taxable bond…
"Everything Trump touches turns to shit."
Paraphrasing David Brooks, Trump degrades everyone that comes into close contact with him.
I apologize for repeating myself.
Who would have thought that the American people would reelect a convicted felon and pedophile?
How on earth can the MAGA contingent rationalize Trump's abhorrent actions?
The Justice Department has intentionally refused to release all the Epstein fi…
"We use our debit card for cash from the local CU atm.
You should feel secure that this type of transaction is indeed 'secure', regardless of the U.S. atm location."
Criminals might attach skimmer devices to ATMs.
These devices are used to steal ca…
From the September 2025 issue of Unredacted Magazine.
Q: Aside from Privacy.com and MySudo, have there been any notable developments
in virtual privacy payment card solutions?
A: Somewhat.
Privacy.com connects to your bank account and allows you t…
"The vast trove of documents released by the Justice Department from its investigations
into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein failed to include some key materials
related to a woman who made an accusation against President Trump,
accordi…
I have not enrolled in a grocery store loyalty program and would never install
any of their loyalty apps on my mobile phone.
A different name, address, and alternate phone number would be used
if I ever choose to obtain a grocery store loyalty card.
From Markets A.M. newsletter by Dan Gallagher.
On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Legal Tender Act,
putting the U.S. government in the business of printing paper money.
The Act also authorized the Treasury to sell 6% bonds ca…
Jeff DeMaso, editor of The Independent Vanguard Adviser, writes about the recent tariffs.
I added bolded text.
"Businesses can adapt to higher costs. What they struggle with is unpredictability—shifting rules,
temporary measures and policies that …
Written by Ana Swanson and published by NY Times yesterday.
"A new tariff on most global imports went into effect in the United States just after midnight Tuesday
at 10 percent, despite President Trump’s pledge over the weekend to impose a 15 perc…
NPR reported yesterday that the DOJ withheld and removed some Epstein files related to allegations
that Trump sexually abused a minor. It's no wonder that his administration has not released all the files!
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/24/nx-s1-5724…
The NY Times fact-checked Trump's speech.
There were many lies and exaggerations as to be expected.
Here are a few examples.
“When I last spoke in the chamber 12 months ago, I had just inherited a nation in crisis with a stagnant economy, inflatio…
Written by Ana Swanson and Tony Romm.
Published by the NY Times today.
"Section 122 was passed by Congress in 1974, in the years after the United States abandoned the use of gold
as a peg for its currency. Critics say the law was directed at the ki…
"I would likely become apoplectic if I had to listen to more of his lies, lies, and damned lies."
I hear you.
This is another excellent reason to avoid the broadcast!
Old_Joe,
I don't have objections to anyone trading or investing in precious metals.
It's just not my cup of tea, so to speak.
I wish you great success!
"Regardless, I am not keen on entering the fray.
It requires too much absolute focus.
I expect more upside, much more volatility, and eventually a sudden correction."
I agree with all of these points.
"Congress may not have intended to create another flavor of m-mkt funds (3 existed already after 2014/16*),
but that's what is happening and now we have a 4th - GENIUS compliant m-mkt funds."
I guess we can be thankful that we have an abundance of …
The Supreme Court struck down IEEPA tariffs on Friday and the U.S. president
responded defiantly by imposing new tariffs using a different provision (Section 122).
His administration is also considering using another provision (Section 301)
because …
"A final lesson, one that Morningstar has repeated often, is that semiliquid funds should only be used
by investors with the financial ability to weather long stretches—years—without needing their money back.
This puts an inherent limit on the 'demo…
The only way to Make America Safe Again is to remove Donald J. Trump and his lackeys.
Then take steps to prevent the astounding level of lawlessness and corruption from happening again.
Trump administration officials need to be held accountable for …
Things might get interesting when the clawback lawsuits start.
That should keep the government lawyers busy for quite a while.
For sure!
BTW, the president was advised that tariffs invoked via the IEEPA
might be struck down by the courts but he igno…
I submit that the South Korean "life sentence" will be transmogrified in about five years
due to "health issues": "OK, go home and keep your mouth shut".
Perhaps, but South Korea tried the perpetrators and sentenced them to long prison terms.
Trum…
The Budget Lab (TBL) estimates the effects of all US tariffs and foreign retaliation implemented in 2025
after the decision by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) that President Trump exceeded
his authority to invoke the 1977 Internation…
Barron's reported the following yesterday.
"The Trump administration cited the country’s wide trade deficit in justifying its use
of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for many of its global tariffs.
While trade was choppy last year as…
From Markets A.M. newsletter by Spencer Jakab.
On this day in 1961, the New York Stock Exchange delisted five stocks in one day.
All were railroad or sugar companies based in Cuba.
Their assets were expropriated by the new government of Fidel Castr…
It's interesting to note that this is actually the first time the Supreme Court
definitively struck down one of the president's second-term policies.
The court previously granted the president broad latitude to exercize executive power.
Latest update from NYT.
"President Trump is planning to invoke new trade authorities in response to the Supreme Court’s
ruling overturning his sweeping tariffs, according to two people familiar with his plans,
potentially including a new, across-th…
From the WSJ.
"The 6-3 decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, removes a diplomatic tool that Trump
has aggressively wielded to remake U.S. trade deals and collect tens of billions of dollars from companies
importing foreign goods. The rul…
There are other mechanisms the administration can use to invoke tariffs.
Nevertheless, the Supreme Court decision to strike down the IEEPA-based tariffs is a welcome development.
There was broad executive overreach—these tariffs were obviously illeg…
From HCR's latest newsletter.
"Today Trump’s Commission of Fine Arts swore in two new members,
including Chamberlain Harris, Trump’s 26-year-old executive assistant,
who has no experience in the arts. Then the commission, now entirely made up of Tr…
