Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Bark louder, little dog.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

No one could have predicted…

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.

The lights are all blinking red.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

We know you aren’t a Democrat but since you seem confused let me help you.

President Musk and Trump are both poorly raised, coddled 8 year old boys.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

75% of people clapping liked the show!

This really is a full service blog.

Disagreements are healthy; personal attacks are not.

Wake up. Grow up. Get in the fight.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Tick tock motherfuckers!

The real work of an opposition party is to oppose.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

You are here: Home / Archives for Economics / Show Us on the Doll Where the Invisible Hand Touched You

Show Us on the Doll Where the Invisible Hand Touched You

Open Thread: Paying the TSA

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Trump Signs Memo Instructing Blatantly Illegal Behavior That Will Be Used As Precedent For Much Worse

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— George Pearkes (@peark.es) March 26, 2026 at 6:41 PM

Of course, it’s probably just another episode in the “Trump Says Sh*t Show”…

There's no mention in this piece that this violates federal law.
It ends with an implication that Trump can do this all on his own: "It’s unclear when exactly Trump will sign the order or how long it will take for workers to get paid as a result of the president’s intervention."

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— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) March 26, 2026 at 7:30 PM

USA Today, “‘I am going to do it’: Trump says he will pay TSA workers”:

…. “I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports,” the president said in a statement Thursday evening. “It is not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it! I want to thank our hardworking TSA Agents and also, ICE, for the incredible help they have given us at the Airports.”…

USA TODAY has reached out to the White House for information about how the president would ensure workers get paid. It’s unclear what legal authority the president has over the issue.

It’s unclear when exactly Trump plans to sign the proposed order…

appreciate that the very first thing trump's ordering mullin to do after being confirmed, before he's even moved into his office or found the bathroom, is to break black letter federal law.

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— GOLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) March 26, 2026 at 6:46 PM

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) on Trump decision to issue order to pay TSA officers:
"So you agree that it was an option the whole time?"

— Scott MacFarlane (@macfarlanenews.bsky.social) March 26, 2026 at 7:05 PM

Because TSA's workforce is disproportionately (relative to US population) nonwhite. To be expected given its workers are concentrated in major metro areas and the federal government is barred from discrimination.
It's yet more Stephen Miller gutter racism.

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— Zeddy (@zeddary.bsky.social) March 26, 2026 at 3:08 PM

Open Thread: Paying the TSAPost + Comments (14)

Thursday Morning Open Thread

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Timeline cleanse here is one of our alley cats coming in for a happy hour tuna-rita (1oz tuna water, 3oz water)

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— Hemry, Local Bartender (@bartenderhemry.bsky.social) September 5, 2025 at 6:37 PM

Trump take job market:

Americans’ outlook on the job market has turned increasingly pessimistic. Just 28% of workers in a quarterly Gallup survey conducted late last year said now is a “good time” to find a quality job, with 72% saying it is a bad time.

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— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) March 25, 2026 at 9:00 PM

Trump’s war is raising your prices across the board. 
Americans need economic relief, not an endless, goalless war.

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— Senator Andy Kim (@kim.senate.gov) March 25, 2026 at 4:58 PM

"the farm economy we inherited"
They didn't "inherit" a spike in fertilizer prices. Nor did they inherit trade tariffs and retaliation. They made these things happen themselves.

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— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec.bsky.social) March 25, 2026 at 8:46 AM

It’s only a flesh wound!

From the same Politico piece:
"House GOP leaders mostly brushed off the Florida special elections in public comments Wednesday, arguing that low-turnout, off-cycle races shouldn’t be considered midterm bellwethers."

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— The Downballot (@the-downballot.com) March 25, 2026 at 5:57 PM

That’s impossible. Idiots who are never right about anything told me democrats never do that.

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— uosd??S ?u?? ?? (@danacorn.bsky.social) March 24, 2026 at 9:38 PM

Platner’s latest ad has been getting attention on social media. From the BlueSky comments, it’s not positive attention…

any ways, when she was AG Janet Mills actually took on Big Pharma, over the Opioid crisis, and won, she spent the money she won for Maine to get enough Narcan for every police and fire department in the state, and when the GOP Governor LePage wouldn't distribute it, she did, herself in her car.

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— Henry (@henrythedog.bsky.social) March 25, 2026 at 11:36 AM

ICYM the late-night thread…

I would contribute to a kickstarter for someone who makes an amateur documentary about this once Trump is out of office. Just a 2 hour compilation of all these clips of prominent Republicans saying "gee I sure am proud to hand Mr. Trump a gold trophy, he deserves it, I love him more than my kids!"

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— politiburb (@politiburb.bsky.social) March 25, 2026 at 9:18 PM

Thursday Morning Open ThreadPost + Comments (263)

Open Thread: Second Order Effects

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Open Thread: Second Order Effects

The REDUCE-REUSE-RECYCLE triangle but it's slowly tapping a baseball bat against its palm.

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— Airbuilder7 (@airbuilder7.bsky.social) March 24, 2026 at 12:19 PM

Ok now it’s several plastics suppliers all saying 7-10% increase effective immediately
So anything you see that is mostly plastic, which is most stuff these days, is now 7-10% more expensive
I should note I did not get plastics notices in the past when oil spiked
It was always steel/metals

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— BEAN YEAR (@billhookunion.beanyear.com) March 13, 2026 at 11:09 AM

Yeah, hearing from clients that the major industrial suppliers are about to pass what was described as “double-digit price increases” in raw material (resins, etc.). Labor’s still a big component input, but this means substantial (call it 3-7%) price hikes since companies are already eating tariffs.

Two years ago they might have taken the hit rather than pass it along to customers, but no one can afford to do that a year into Tariff Grandpa killing their margins.

Donald Trump single handedly doing more to tighten the plastic supply than years of green initiatives lmao

— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 24, 2026 at 12:26 PM

trump break world economy

— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 24, 2026 at 12:06 PM

The pandemic was when I was educated on how vital resins are to manufacturing. You basically can’t have any food product packaging without it. In the spring of 2020, resin supplies for a lot of manufacturers got dangerously low and R&D people were asked for “solutions”. Their response: 🤷

It got to the point where buyers were sending people to the docks where the resins were being loaded to ensure they were loaded on the right vessel bc other buyers were going to ports and doing live deals to buy the resin out from under you.

Open Thread: Second Order Effects 1

Open Thread: Second Order EffectsPost + Comments (135)

Open Thread: Trump Take TSA

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Trump threatens to…remove ICE agents from American streets?

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— Matt Ford (@mford.bsky.social) March 21, 2026 at 12:41 PM

I had hoped this was another episode of the Trump Says Sh*t Show, but of course the harder his minions defend it, the more he’ll feel it needs to be implemented…

BASH: With respect, if you're implementing a plan to have ICE at airports in 24 hours, how well thought out could it possibly be?
HOMAN: How much of a plan does it mean to guard an exit to make sure no one comes through that exit?

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 22, 2026 at 9:40 AM

TSA currently employs about 50,000 screening agents. ICE currently employs about 22,000 agents.
This threat won’t solve the TSA funding issue, and it would also come at the expense of further degrading his already unpopular & incompetent immigration program

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— Roger Sollenberger (@sollenbergerrc.bsky.social) March 21, 2026 at 12:13 PM

There are 50k frontline TSA agents. After an employment surge.. there are 22k Ice Officers/Agents, and they're already stretched thin enough they've been asking the TSA to handle deportation flights.
I understand our desire for everything to be ~spooookkyy~, but this is heinously half baked.

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— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 21, 2026 at 12:25 PM

And that's after doubling their capacity over 2025. ICE was around 11k before Trump 2.

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— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 21, 2026 at 12:43 PM

That’s funny because Federal Air Marshals (which are part of TSA) have already largely replaced ICE agents on deportation flights (I have a story on this coming next week).
So everyone’s just gonna do a big switcheroo, because…????

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— Gillian Brockell (@gillianbrockell.com) March 21, 2026 at 11:51 AM

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Open Thread: Trump Take TSAPost + Comments (205)

TGIFriday Morning Open Thread

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General Mood:

A Vermilion Flycatcher looking like straight-up fire!
#birds #nature #wildlife #photography

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— Alex Sauerbrunn (@birdsbyalex.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 11:32 AM

The SAVE Act would be the most restrictive federal voting bill to ever be passed by Congress. @mawaldman.bsky.social talks with @padilla.senate.gov about what voters should know:

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— Brennan Center (@brennancenter.org) March 18, 2026 at 8:33 AM

Reaganesque.

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— Malaclypse the Middle (@malaclypse.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 8:55 PM

There is a reason why administrations do not typically embrace the "Absolutely no carrots for anyone, there will only be sticks" policy that Trump 2 has.

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— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 9:54 PM

Trump taking jobs

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— Clean Observer (@hammbear2024.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 1:17 PM

gop in power
economy down
repeat

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— Oliver Willis (@owillis.bsky.social) March 18, 2026 at 3:07 PM

A president of the US is now, seemingly deliberately, and not for the first time, doing his worst to wreck the economy. But not just the US economy this time. The whole fucking world.
This is what happens when the Republican Party gains absolute power in the US.

— Charles Johnson (@charles.littlegreenfootballs.com) March 19, 2026 at 9:15 PM

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TGIFriday Morning Open ThreadPost + Comments (299)

Open Thread: Paying the Price

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Clever. These are popping up all across the USA.

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— Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social) March 18, 2026 at 9:50 PM

Womp womp farmers

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— #1 Nate Blouin for Congress Stan (@purrtah.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 4:07 PM

The entire ag lobby turning on you seems ill timed for a bunch of elections in Iowa.

— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 4:09 PM

Another Republican coming out and speaking the truth…after he’s announced he’s not running for reelection.

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— Dana Houle (@danahoule.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 12:05 PM

There is no bottom…
www.axios.com/2026/03/19/t…

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— Anne Laurie (@annelaurie.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM

More details — gift link:

“.. The plan .. reflects the administration’s desperation to reduce oil prices, encouraging Iran to sell more oil even while it is at war ..”
@nytimes.com ⛽️
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/u…

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM

ICYMI, two weeks ago: 🤡

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 8:08 AM

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 8:03 AM

Oil selloff/stocks & bonds rally off session lows was on long before this but FWIW:
*US AUTHORIZES DELIVERY, SALE OF SOME RUSSIAN CRUDE OIL

— George Pearkes (@peark.es) March 19, 2026 at 3:15 PM

AP follows the @notus.com report on how the Trump administration had already gutted the State Dept’s staff of Middle East policy experts — and “eliminated the dedicated Iran office ..”
@apnews.com
apnews.com/article/iran…

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 6:16 AM

"The guys that have spent decades planning for this exact scenario ended up getting the upper hand over the guy that didnt plan for this at all and fired everyone whose job it is to do so. Who could have foreseen this."

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— Daniel Gilmore (@gilmored85.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 11:28 AM

“He makes a very bad loser.”
– @economist.com
www.economist.com/leaders/2026…

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 11:10 AM

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) March 18, 2026 at 6:07 PM

Open Thread: Paying the PricePost + Comments (192)

Tuesday Morning Open Thread

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Determined doggo wants to sit on the comfy chair: #AGoodPlace
Source: www.reddit.com/r/BeAmazed/s…

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— Michelle says: Be kind. Always. ❤️ (@snarkysillysad.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 8:15 AM

www.reuters.com/business/ene…

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— Elizabeth Warren (@warren.senate.gov) March 16, 2026 at 4:11 PM

$1 million gets you 10 minutes access to the bathroom at Mar-a-Lago containing the files.

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— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 10:07 AM

In their wildest fantasies about Hunter Biden, Republicans didn't come up with anything half as corrupt as what Kushner is doing in front of our eyes every day. He's handling US foreign policy at the exact same time that he's taking billions from the Saudi dictator.

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— Senator Ron Wyden (@wyden.senate.gov) March 16, 2026 at 1:36 PM

Democrats voted to reopen TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard. Republicans voted NO because they refuse to rein in ICE.
This week, we will launch a discharge petition to force another vote.
If the GOP actually cares about paying TSA workers and keeping families safe, they’ll join us.

— Katherine Clark (@whipkclark.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 2:18 PM

It’s sickening that Trump seems to relish causing suffering and death in other countries, from Venezuela to Iran to Cuba.
Our 60+ year embargo of Cuba is a disaster. It serves no purpose but to exploit everyday Cubans and use them, politically, in the most cruel, inhumane way.

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— Rep. Jim McGovern (@repmcgovern.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 5:38 PM

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Tuesday Morning Open ThreadPost + Comments (186)