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Despite assurances from Amtrak's administrators that profitability is just around the corner, Amtrak remains a huge money loser. However, even given the long distances of some of the routes, Amtrak could still be profitable if its leadership is willing to make changes.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/subsidies-amtrak-and-siemens-pathway-cronyism-few
President Donald Trump spent Wednesday refuting reports he plans to imminently fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The president has been complaining about him for months, accusing Powell of unnecessarily keeping interest rates high. But Trump’s frustrations seemed to reach a new peak this week amid reports he had a letter drafted to oust the man he appointed to the job back in 2017, then asked a group of House Republicans whether he should do it. Firing Powell would undermine the Federal Reserve’s independence. It’s also potentially illegal. Bloomberg Senior Editor and friend of the pod Stacey Vanek Smith stops by to talk about interest rates, inflation risks, and Trump’s very focused campaign of loathing against Powell.
And in headlines: Vice President J.D. Vance hit the road to put some proverbial lipstick on Trump’s pig of a new tax and spending law, the Trump administration deported five migrants to the small African nation of Eswatini, and the senior vice president of PBS Kids says the network will have to scale back new programing if Congress lets Trump claw back funding.
Show Notes:
For years, Donald Trump was often the only Western leader with anything nice to say about Vladimir Putin.But with Russia and Ukraine still fighting six months into his term, their friendship is on the rocks. Are we seeing a temporary spat – or a real policy shift?
Guest: Michael McFaul, U.S. ambassador to Russia 2012-2014, author of the upcoming book “Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder.”
Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Ethan Oberman, Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther.
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The word "democratic" is supposed to soften the blow of socialism, with Zohran Mamdani's campaign being the latest to fool the voters. In reality, there is no softening real socialism, as it depends upon coercion, violence, and ultimately becomes totalitarian.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/democratic-socialism-totalitarianism
Like a child with his new favorite toy at Christmas, President Trump is using tariff taxes not only to attempt to centrally plan the pricing of thousands of goods and services in the economy, but also to engage in election interference in other countries.
Original article: https://mises.org/power-market/trumps-election-interference-tariff
There are real concerns regarding Mamdani. Mamdani is a self-described socialist, and socialism has failed disastrously everywhere it's been tried.
Original article: https://mises.org/power-market/new-york-city-doomed
Exposing such lies is key for restoring liberty. The good news is that the more mistrust of government grows, the easier it will be to find people receptive to our message.
Original article: https://mises.org/power-market/mistrusting-government-about-epstein-and-more
By introducing legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley is demonstrating that while Republicans like to talk about free markets, they are statists and interventionists like their Democratic colleagues across the aisle.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/josh-hawley-proves-republicans-still-dont-understand-economics
Perhaps no publication contributed more to the Colonials' drive for independence from Great Britain than Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense." But what if he had tried to get the Continental Congress to publish it, instead? The following debate might have occurred.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/thomas-paine-slaps-congress-his-resume