The Deja Vu

So days have more memories than others. May 19 is a very memorable day for me so let's get into it.

Barney Frank on Meet the Press. He was simply the best. When Kennedy died Obama's team kept him from being a place keeper. No Idea why.

Professor Robert Frank was a pioneer in Behavioral Economics before the term even existed. Want to understand the book?

1. Largest payroll won't always attract all of the best talent. Why be fifth best in New York when you can be the best in St. Louis?
2. Hire the person who is competent and a good fit, not the most qualified.

Poll news: Platner beating Collins in Maine by 8

Disastrous Fox News poll: 

1. -52 on inflation
2. -42 on economy
3. -2 Border Security
4. Among non-college white men from +17 in March 2025 to -8 now

Trump phone customers had all of their personal data released per CoffeeZilla. 

Jess Bezos gave an interview with something for everyone to hate. He bashed rich people who don't pay enought taxes, insinuated school teachers have it easy, and said Trump has matured in office. 

Meanwhile, the Washington Post continues to implode.

Nvidia crushed in earnings so stock market should go up.

Too late? Meanwhile, SpaceX released it's financial data to go public. It is ugly.

HPV Vaccines now harder to get in Iowa. In 2007 Rick Perry signed a mandate for girls in 6th grade to be vacinated. Of course, he profited from this and the legislature overturned it. 

Congrats to Aubrey Rocco, Winner of Survivor 50.

Succession in real life. James Murdoch is the "liberal" Murdoch. Black sheep of the family buying up assets.

I have followed MKBHD since 2009 when his review of an HP Pavillion led me to buy one. The Verge, Pivot, etc...

8 years ago today Harry and Meghan got married. I wasn't interested to watch so Jamie and I went to a pub and stopped by his Elementary. 

A public boys school run by the Catholic Church.

Best boss in the world. 

Winner of the Debate contest.

Save the rich or tax them?

Two updates from yesterday:

1. It appears it was closer to 600,000 orders for Trump phone.

2. Senate Leader Thune killed the Federal Gas Tax Relief because it would destroy the highway trust fund. Worth noting, the last increase in this tax was 1993. Then Leader Bob Dole opposed it. 

Sandy with me in Amsterdam as we were enjoying Profiteroles as we were meeting our bestie Beth.

Mohammed, Travis, me, and Ann at Snoopy Rock in Fujairah.

Mini Coe reunion: Thomas Valley, Travis Krug, Sandy Busgen Burke, Kelly Fitzgerald, Steve Kranz at an impromptu Coe Reunion in Minneapolis.

Luqman and me before go carting in Al Ain.

Luqman and Adnan with me before I flew back to Iowa to caucus for Mayor Pete in 2020.

Before Trump departed to China he said he didn't need help from Xi on Iran. Fortunately for Trump it is help he is going to get but Xi will certainly extract a huge price for it.

More Airlines suspending flights to Dubai. Why? risk they can't land and much higher costs because of the longer route.

Musk's trial is ending with a whimper but it's ramifications are huge: 

Lessons:

Everything you ask AI is discoverable.

(The Satya Nadella clause)

Musk is every bit as ego-centric and maniacal as we thought.

Being upset about missing a good investment is a really dumb reason to sue.

SpaceX size.

Visual Capitalist does great graphics.

CPI confirmed the news we had last week: Inflation has begun to rise and is now outpacing wage gains. So the feeling you are falling behind is now backed up by data.

Wealth of top 1% vs. 20-80% (Middle class). 

Mandami property tax DOA. The rise for the middle class was never going to happen... but it's unfortunate the tax on the second houses over $5 million did not go through. A 10% tax on these houses serves two purposes: It raises badly needed revenue. And, for those who do sell, it frees up housing stock.