The notion that Trump Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and his allies may be falling out of favor with Trump is a delightful distraction, but we shouldn’t let palace intrigue take our focus off the looming civil conflict.
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Population Growth Slows to Crawl, Net Migration May Turn “Negative”: Census Bureau’s New Population Estimates
Population stagnation or even shrinkage has major implications for prospects for housing, employment, and consumer spending.
Science and President Trump: Year Five and Counting
According to the news article in Damage Assessment (paywall that may be surmounted by registration) in Science by Jeffrey Mervis, the stated goals of Trump v2.0 have been consistent and were implicit during Trump v1.0. These have been: (1) shrink the size and scope of the federal government, (2) expand the power of the presidency, […]
More Evidence of Destructive Deflation in China
China’s deflation crunch is getting worse.
Creative Energy Diplomacy Might Avert Another American Attack On Iran
Trump needs a face-saving way to de-escalate with Iran. Is an energy deal possibe?
Coffee Break: Armed Madhouse – Silicon Valley and The Military–Industrial–Venture Complex
Silicon Valley’s entry into defense contracting is often framed as a long-overdue modernization of a bureaucratic Pentagon. This article argues that the venture capital model is structurally misaligned with the requirements of strategic defense systems engineering. The rise of a Military–Industrial–Venture Complex risks collapsing governance into product design, accelerating technological deployment without corresponding institutional capacity, and increasing escalation and democratic accountability risks.
Retro Fever: Cranking Back the Years
From Trump on down, the US is particularly keen on the retrograde.
German Economists Call For Full Repatriation of Germany’s Gold Held in US Amid Colossal Loss of Trust
The US’ gold holdings, allegedly the largest on the planet, have not been subjected to a comprehensive audit since the 1950s.
Trump Does a Soft TACO as Republicans, NRA and Law Enforcement Officers Oppose ICE Thuggery. A Gambit or a Real Climbdown?
Trump for the moment is signaling a climbdown on his hyper-aggressive ICE tactics. But how long will this show of contrition last?
Geopolitics as a Monetary Shock: The ‘Silent Tightening’ in the European Banking System Due to Sanctions Against Russia
Another example of Ukraine war blowback on the West: banking costs rose and lending tightened due to the sanctions on Russia.
Coffee Break: Oracle Debt and TikTok Transition Troubles Vex the Ellison Media Empire
Oracle has financial problems that threaten the Ellison media empire, while technical problems at TikTok complicate the transition to total info control.
Is Being Virtuous Good for You – or Just People Around You? A Study Suggests Traits Like Compassion May Support Your Own Well-Being
Is being virtuous more than just its own reward?
