The abortion law builds on legislation passed in 2010 that represented a major shift for a traditionally Catholic country, transforming Spain into one of the most progressive countries in Europe on reproductive rights. Spain's constitutional court last week rejected a challenge by the right-wing Popular Party against allowing abortions in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.
The debate will be heated in Spain, I imagine, as the conservative opposition pushes back. My daughter had horrible menstrual pain during her adolescence and young adulthood. I'm certain that she would have benefitted from that time.
In the first two months of 2025, DOGE and the Trump administration laid off 62,530 federal workers. That was an increase of 41,311 percent from the same time period in 2024. And more cuts are likely.
DOGE and Trump are trumpeting these reductions in force as a good thing financially, saying it will save the federal government billions of dollars. So far, though, it appears to be costing much more than it has saved—with additional, much larger, losses on the horizon.
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Two judges this month cited legal problems with the moves that have dramatically downsized the government, reinstating tens of thousands of workers. The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to halt those orders, but in the meantime it's immediately putting many of those workers on administrative leave, giving them back pay and ongoing full pay and benefits.
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"These firings they're conducting without following the law will result in hundreds of thousands of former federal employees being owed back pay, plus interest, plus benefits, plus attorneys fees,” said labor attorney Suzanne Summerlin in an interview last month with The Guardian. "When the bill comes, it will be monumental.”)
The full cost of the number of workers currently on forced administrative leave is something no one has been able to calculate yet, in part because of the rapidly escalating number of people being impacted by reductions in force and the ensuing court fights.
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Beyond the cost of administrative leave, DOGE firings at the Internal Revenue Service are expected to result in a significant revenue shortfall this year.
Disruptions from DOGE could mean $500 billion in lost federal revenue this year, according to a report in The Washington Post.
Musk's behavior is costing us lots of money and is disrupting almost every level and function of our government. It looks like republican voters believe that this waste and fraud is necessary. Holy hell.
Stock market selling picked back up on Friday as worries of "stagflation" trickled through Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 507 points, or 1.2%. The S&P 500 was down 1.5%. The Nasdaq Composite slid 2%.
The yield on the 2-year Treasury note was down to 3.96%. The 10-year yield fell to 4.29%.
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Rosenberg Research's David Rosenberg writes that while this morning's data may be overshadowed by impacts of the White House's trade war, he's seeing signs of both "stag" and "flation" in the numbers.
"Even before the tariffs, inflation showed signs of a comeback, while cracks are clearly surfacing in the high-end consumer space,” Rosenberg writes.
The core personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.4% in February, ahead of expectations at 0.3%. Personal income jumped 0.8%, compared to expectations for 0.4% monthly growth.
While I'm certain that Trump supporters are primed and ready to believe that this change in trajectory is simply an extension of the Biden economy, the rest of us can see that Trump isn't fixing anything, he's making things worse.
Again.
This time he's creating disaster at the front end of his presidency.
The president said that he "couldn't care less" if foreign automakers raised prices after he announced that he would impose 25% tariffs on all foreign-made automobiles....
Asked what his recent message was to motor industry CEOs, and if he warned them against raising prices, Trump said, "The message is congratulations, if you make your car in the United States, you're going to make a lot of money. If you don't, you're going to have to probably come to the United States, because if you make your car in the United States, there is no tariff.”
When pressed if he told CEOs not to raise prices, as reported in the The Wall Street Journal, Trump added, "No, I never said that. I couldn't care less if they raise prices, because people are going to start buying American-made cars.”
Trump continued, "I couldn't care less. I hope they raise their prices, because if they do, people are gonna buy American-made cars. We have plenty.”...
Here's a decent article about the state of the Democrat party right now. I think the writer is providing a good testament of the turmoil in the party and their unpopularity. I won't stick my head in the sand about that. I do think the writer had an idea and wrote only about that idea and quoted people to only support that idea.
I agree the Democrats are in a mess right now and don't seem to have a clear agenda or direction. Also I know many of us aren't leaving the party and the one thing we have in common is that even though we're in the minority we still are united against Trumpism and Musk. There's a grass roots coming together even if it's directionless right now.
Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are striking a chord.
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The socialist firebrands have been crisscrossing the country, attracting some of the largest crowds of their careers. Their rallies are bigger than any other events currently being held by Democrats, and party figures of all stripes are taking notice.
I guess the important thing like the article said is to not risk becoming a permanent minority such as what happened here in Florida. That will take leadership.
He said he is OK if prices are raised and acknowledged that they may. What specifically are you referring to when he said he has "no understanding of economics"?
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Beerman said:
He said he is OK if prices are raised and acknowledged that they may. What specifically are you referring to when he said he has "no understanding of economics"?
His policy and his rhetoric both reflect his childish lack of understanding.
What about Trump's idiocy reassures you that Trump has a clear understanding of federal or global economics? The guy thinks that tariffs are the best thing even while even the threat of tariffs is destabilizing the economy, ffs.
He said he is OK if prices are raised and acknowledged that they may. What specifically are you referring to when he said he has "no understanding of economics"?
He was specifically speaking about foreign cars. He doesn't care if those prices go up because he thinks this will prompt people to buy less expensive American made cars. I think he clearly understands this, Trump is not an ignorant person. But like a lot of politicians who promise lower prices for consumers he seems have thrown that idea out of the window.
Trump's tarrifs will hurt current owners not ready to buy new. I don't want a car payment right now as I have some household projects to accomplish before I retire in 3 to 5 years. I drive a Japanese car and want to keep it running for a while and it's already expensive to maintain and I'm not looking forward to higher maintenance and parts costs. It's a 2018 and if the cost goes up considerably when I'm ready for a new one I will compare American cars, but American manufacturers need to step up their game and make better cars. Asian and German vehicles consistently outrank American cars on "best cars" lists from what I can tell. From my own anecdotal experience, having switched to Japanese my last two cars I've prefer them over American.
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It's a new development for Trump, who never previously had a majority against his handling of the economy in a national NBC News poll. Now, he is confronting jittery markets and businesses amid his early moves to put tariffs on U.S. neighbors and other allies. Trump also faces questions from voters about whether he is sufficiently focused on their core issue of costs as he pursues other projects like reshaping the federal bureaucracy.
Overall, the poll reflects an America that remains deeply divided in the months following Trump's 2024 victory, as it was in the months before.
His policy and his rhetoric both reflect his childish lack of understanding.
What about Trump's idiocy reassures you that Trump has a clear understanding of federal or global economics? The guy thinks that tariffs are the best thing even while even the threat of tariffs is destabilizing the economy, ffs.
Trump does seem to use tarrifs as a weapon. But in an interesting development instead of destabilizing the oil economy his latest threat is seen as a possible bluff.
He was specifically speaking about foreign cars. He doesn't care if those prices go up because he thinks this will prompt people to buy less expensive American made cars. I think he clearly understands this, Trump is not an ignorant person. But like a lot of politicians who promise lower prices for consumers he seems have thrown that idea out of the window.
Trump's tarrifs will hurt current owners not ready to buy new. I don't want a car payment right now as I have some household projects to accomplish before I retire in 3 to 5 years. I drive a Japanese car and want to keep it running for a while and it's already expensive to maintain and I'm not looking forward to higher maintenance and parts costs. It's a 2018 and if the cost goes up considerably when I'm ready for a new one I will compare American cars, but American manufacturers need to step up their game and make better cars. Asian and German vehicles consistently outrank American cars on "best cars" lists from what I can tell. From my own anecdotal experience, having switched to Japanese my last two cars I've prefer them over American.
Trump does seem to use tarrifs as a weapon. But in an interesting development instead of destabilizing the oil economy his latest threat is seen as a possible bluff.
I've always thought that it's an oversimplification when it's said that whatever cost "will be passed on to the customer". Products and services are already charged the most of what the seller think they can to make the maximum profit. That price they can get also effects how much they decide to produce. So, often an extra tariffs or supply costs can't simply be passed on.
We're talking about 25% here. So, hard to imagine that won't effect both production (therefore supply) and sales, and it seems like will also drive up costs of used cars like during covid. Trump of course does understand this. I don't think anyone on either side of the coin wants these tariffs. So, we shall see what happens.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Tweety said:
He was specifically speaking about foreign cars. He doesn't care if those prices go up because he thinks this will prompt people to buy less expensive American made cars. I think he clearly understands this, Trump is not an ignorant person. But like a lot of politicians who promise lower prices for consumers he seems have thrown that idea out of the window.
Trump's tarrifs will hurt current owners not ready to buy new. I don't want a car payment right now as I have some household projects to accomplish before I retire in 3 to 5 years. I drive a Japanese car and want to keep it running for a while and it's already expensive to maintain and I'm not looking forward to higher maintenance and parts costs. It's a 2018 and if the cost goes up considerably when I'm ready for a new one I will compare American cars, but American manufacturers need to step up their game and make better cars. Asian and German vehicles consistently outrank American cars on "best cars" lists from what I can tell. From my own anecdotal experience, having switched to Japanese my last two cars I've prefer them over American.
Trump does seem to use tarrifs as a weapon. But in an interesting development instead of destabilizing the oil economy his latest threat is seen as a possible bluff.
He said he is OK if prices are raised and acknowledged that they may. What specifically are you referring to when he said he has "no understanding of economics"?
Beerman, BSN
4,428 Posts
TDS and karma....LOL
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6370540795112