Sun, December 1, 2024

by: Brian Stokes

Real World Economics: Fed is insulated from political interference

Seven weeks from inauguration, Donald Trump and his aides are issuing blizzards of announced nominations to key positions and of policy measures that will be taken quickly. Most are controversial.

by: Brian Stokes

'Vivek, Jay and now Kash': Former spiritual advisor to Donald Trump lauds Indian-origin nominations to US administration

Donald Trump plans to place Indian-Americans in key positions during his potential second term as president. Trump's former spiritual advisor Johnnie Moore highlighted several appointees of Indian descent on X (formerly Twitter).

by: Brian Stokes

Debate evoked my mother's end of life: Would we have had assisted dying conversation?

Friday evoked for me the end of life of my mother, my brother and my best friend, all of whom died of terminal cancer: would we have had that conversation about assisted dying, and what might that have meant?

by: Brian Stokes

How to take advantage of Medicare's expanded drug benefit in 2025

It will be easier to spread out Part D drug costs over the year, while the total annual cost of medicines will be capped at $2,000.

by: Brian Stokes

Trudeau promises border helicopters at 'very productive' Trump meeting: source

On Friday evening, Trudeau landed in Florida and travelled to Trump's Mar-a-Lago club for a hastily arranged dinner and discussion with president-elect.

by: Brian Stokes

Displaced Nepali-speaking Bhutanese fume over 'mindfulness city' plan

by: Brian Stokes

Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to meet with House Republicans next week to discuss DOGE

Businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will meet with House Republicans this week to discuss cuts to federal government spending, among other matters.

by: Brian Stokes

Election 2024: The latest results in maps and charts

by: Brian Stokes

Kash Patel's prescription for an ailing FBI: accountability and house cleaning

Patel has extensive experience as a public defender, federal prosecutor, House Intelligence Committee counsel, National Security Council member and chief of staff at the Pentagon.

by: Brian Stokes

How Trump's Tax Cuts Might Impact Medicaid and Food Stamps in 2025

In 2017, then-President Donald Trump championed a successful tax bill that lowered taxes for a large majority of American taxpayers. Many of the provisions of the tax bill are set to expire in 2025, and the now President-elect Trump spent a large part of his 2024 to retake the presidency by promising to extend the 2017 tax bill and prevent those expirations.

by: Brian Stokes

B'desh genocide: I don't find any difference between India and Bangladesh, says Mehbooba Mufti, BJP calls it treason

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti compared Bangladesh atrocities against minorities with India, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravinder Raina on December 1 called it very controversial and unfortunate. While speaking to ANI,

by: Brian Stokes

Bilawal makes pitch for political stability

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has laid emphasis on establishing political stability and writ of the state, claiming that now it will have to be decided whether this stability and writ is established through dialogue or come on the back of force.

by: Brian Stokes

Irish elections: Political parties plot path to government

by: Brian Stokes

Trump discussed border, trade with Canada's Trudeau after pledging steep tariffs

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday he discussed the border, trade and energy in a "very productive" meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid fears of a trade war. Trudeau paid an unannounced visit to Florida on Friday evening and had dinner with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence,

by: Brian Stokes

Republicans eye tax breaks, border funds and clean energy cuts when Trump returns

Republicans plan to pass a huge party-line bill under Donald Trump next year that could include immigration and border, tax and climate provisions.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump and allies blur the lines between politician and influencer

by: Brian Stokes

BBC host missing from own morning show as I'm A Celebrity star steps in

A familiar face was missing from her usual Sunday morning slot on December 1, with an I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star stepping in to make sure things ran smoothly

by: Brian Stokes

Renewable energy project promising to end power outages in small WA towns sits in limbo

A unique renewable energy project using water, gravity, and solar power has been completed in WA's south, promising to end power outages for a small country town. But the government-backed project sits in limbo,

by: Brian Stokes

Trump's plans for mass deportations could target 47,000 in Philadelphia: 'No question it's going to be ugly.'

For 20 years Blanca Pacheco has fought for immigrants in Philadelphia, becoming painfully familiar with federal operations to deport men, women, and children. Sometimes a father disappears from the community,

by: Brian Stokes

Okiya Omtatah condemns Ruto for celebrating Tanzania's trade victory over Kenya: "Deeply concerning"

Senator Okiya Omtatah has slammed President William Ruto for celebrating Tanzania after they emerged victorious in trade within the East African region.

by: Brian Stokes

Lynn Schmidt: How could Dems win back workers? Start with respecting the value of work

For years now Democrats have been wringing their hands over the loss of the working-class voter to Republicans," Schmidt said.

by: Brian Stokes

Raised law and order issues hoping for action but I was attacked instead: Kejriwal

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, 1 December, targeted the BJP-led central government for alleged inaction on law and order issues in New Delhi, claiming that instead of taking action against criminals, an attack was orchestrated on him during his 30 November padyatra in Malviya Nagar.

by: Brian Stokes

Watch live: Chris Hipkins speaks at close of Labour's annual conference

The coalition Government has picked up the last Labour government ... Thomas Coughlan is Deputy Political Editor and covers politics from Parliament. He has worked for the Herald since 2021 and has worked in the press gallery since 2018.

by: Brian Stokes

President-elect Trump and Elon Musk party at Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving dinner

President-elect Trump and Elon Musk were seen partying at Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving dinner and grooving to the "Y.M.C.A." song. (Credit: Jacob Safar/@yaakovsafar)

by: Brian Stokes

List of Public Holidays FG Will Declare in December 2024/January 2025

Legit.ng lists the public holidays in Nigeria for December 2024 and January 2025. These include Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day celebrations.

by: Brian Stokes

Biden's Angola visit to focus on US investments, regional partnerships in Africa

Biden's visit, scheduled for Dec. 2 through Dec. 4, will begin with a bilateral meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço in the capital of Luanda

by: Brian Stokes

A Second Trump Term Poses a Crucial Test of the Senate's Independence

President-elect Donald J. Trump is threatening to challenge the institution's historic role, and the Constitution, with his prospective nominees and threats to push the boundaries of executive authority.

by: Brian Stokes

Pat McFadden denies 'tawdry and chaotic' Government claims

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden has denied that Labour is behaving like the previous Conservative government after Transport Secretary Louise Haigh was forced to resign after a decade-old fraud conviction resurfaced.

by: Brian Stokes

Donald Trump tests the system of checks and balances just weeks after election

In the two weeks since his Election Day victory, President-elect Donald Trump has already suggested he is ready to push the limits of those checks and balances, setting up a potential constitutional showdown with a Congress controlled by members of his own party and a Supreme Court with a conservative supermajority.

by: Brian Stokes

Almost half of voters 'want a general election' within six months after being 'betrayed' by Labour Government

Nearly 50 per cent of voters are unhappy with the Labour Government and "want a general election" within the next six months, a new poll has revealed. A petition which is calling for a new election has been circulating online,

by: Brian Stokes

Labour still better than 'chaotic' Tories, says CBI chairman

Corporate Britain is better off with Labour than the "chaotic" Tories, the chairman of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said. Rupert Soames said the stability offered by the new Government was preferable to the turnover seen under the previous administration, despite a backlash to Rachel Reeves's Budget.

by: Brian Stokes

These cabinet picks and others in Trump's inner circle got their start at Philly-area universities

Individuals poised to hold high-level positions in the Trump administration used college to develop their goals, conservative values, and personalities that have led them to political prominence.

by: Brian Stokes

Thanks for dinner: Trudeau's all-smiles pic with Trump amid tariff hike threat

Canada's Justin Trudeau made an unannounced visit to Florida on Friday evening and became the first G7 leader to meet with US President-elect Donald Trump amid fears of the US President-elect threatening tariffs on Canadian products.

by: Brian Stokes

Trump picks Kash Patel to head FBI

Republican President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday said he wanted former National Security official and firebrand loyalist Kash Patel to lead the FBI, signaling an intent to drive out the bureau's current director,

by: Brian Stokes

Putin alerts Trump to life-threatening danger

US President-elect Donald Trump's life is still in danger," his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, told Russian media on Thursday after his visit to Kazakhstan. "The methods of fighting Trump were totally uncivil,

by: Brian Stokes

BJP's Kamaljeet Sehrawat blames public outrage for liquid attack on Arvind Kejriwal

BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat commented on the incident where a liquid was thrown at former Delhi CM and AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal, stating that such events occur whenever a leader goes on a Padyatra,

by: Brian Stokes

Hunter Biden's team issues a fiery defense ahead of sentencing, possible pardon

In a 52-page paper titled "The political prosecutions of Hunter Biden" released Saturday, Hunter Biden's lawyers criticize the foundation of the investigations into their cl

by: Brian Stokes

The International Criminal Court has zero credibility left. It cannot survive

The International Criminal Court (ICC) lost any vestige of legitimacy it may have had by issuing its recent arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As France and other countries have since made clear,

by: Brian Stokes

This is a political masterstroke by President Zelensky

For some time, the ground has been shifting in Kyiv as Ukraine braces for a potential Trump presidency and his much-touted promise of a ceasefire within 24 hours of taking office on 20 January 2025. Senior figures,

by: Brian Stokes

President Trump threatens 100% tariffs and permanent breakup for Putin's BRICS if they dethrone US dollar

by: Brian Stokes

Who is President Bashar al-Assad? Target of Islamist rebels in Syria

Assad? Rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad roamed the streets of Syria's Aleppo on Friday night (November 29), saying they have liberated it from al-Assad's hold.

by: Brian Stokes

Anthony Albanese expected to reshuffle cabinet in January

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to reshuffle his cabinet in January ahead of the 2025 federal election.

by: Brian Stokes

Lawmakers, former officials react to Trump's FBI director pick Kash Patel

President-elect Trump's decision to nominate Kash Patel to serve as FBI director has sparked mixed reactions from lawmakers and former officials, with Republicans praising the controversial pick. "It's a terrible development for the men and women of the FBI and also for the nation that depends on a highly functioning professional independent Federal Bureau

by: Brian Stokes

Armed rebels occupy centre of Aleppo, Syria's largest city

Thousands of insurgents also fanned out across Aleppo in vehicles with improvised armour and pickups, a day after they entered the city. View on euronews

by: Brian Stokes

Federal DEI spending explodes under Biden-Harris administration

President Donald Trump has promised to reduce government waste and employed wealthy businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the charge. So far, spending on federal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies are prime targets for Musk and Ramaswamy,

by: Brian Stokes

Syria Conflict Latest: Turkey's First Reaction on Aleppo Attacks - 'Won't Allow Terrorist-Led State'

In the latest development from Syria, Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has firmly stated that Turkey will not allow the establishment of a "terrorist-led state" in Syria, specifically referring to the ongoing conflict in Aleppo and Idlib.

by: Brian Stokes

Coalition frontbencher says voters conned into backing independents

Opposition communications spokesman Paul Fletcher, facing a battle against an independent at the next election, says teals had duped traditional Coalition supporters.

by: Brian Stokes

Politics latest: Minister denies Labour as bad as Tories after Louise Haigh scandal

Pat McFadden, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips he was "sorry" to see the departure of Louise Haigh as transport secretary. Watch the show live below.

Real World Economics: Fed is insulated from political interference

Seven weeks from inauguration, Donald Trump and his aides are issuing blizzards of announced nominations to key positions and of policy measures that will be taken quickly. Most are controversial.

The article from Twin Cities discusses the importance of the Federal Reserve's independence from political interference, emphasizing how this autonomy allows the Fed to make monetary policy decisions based on economic data rather than political pressures. It highlights that the Fed's structure, with its appointed governors serving long terms, is designed to insulate it from short-term political influences, thereby fostering long-term economic stability. The piece also touches on historical examples where political interference in central banking led to economic turmoil, underscoring the benefits of an independent central bank in maintaining low inflation, promoting economic growth, and managing financial crises effectively. The article argues that while the Fed's decisions can be unpopular, its independence is crucial for sound economic policy.

Read the Full TwinCities.com Article at:
https://www.twincities.com/2024/12/01/real-world-economics-fed-is-insulated-from-political-interference/