Author: nick

House trailer, Bombay Beach, California. Photo: Jeffrey St. Clair. Home prices are up 60 percent since 2019, and purchasing the median-priced home would pose a significant financial strain for most Americans. Half of all renters are cost-burdened, paying more than the recommended maximum of 30 percent of their income on housing. Rising housing costs and a lack of affordable housing has led to a record high level of chronic homelessness. There is not enough affordable housing: + The nation faces a deficit of about 2 million homes for purchase. + The median single-family home costs five times the median household…

Good News About Economic Mobility Source link

“Mom, Dad, checking in,” one person who appears to be a U.S. service member tells the camera. “I’m good, okay? No need to worry about me.” Surrounded by snow and ice, she continues: “It’s freezing out here and I’m soaked. But for the safety of the American people, and to help make America great again, I’m standing my ground. Do I earn your follow and your thumbs up yet? Stay safe.” That isn’t a U.S. service member or even a real person. The video was generated with artificial intelligence.  It’s one of many fake videos showing similar scenarios — U.S.…

Identical twins Nathan and Nick Roberts, the former a dedicated MAGA supporter and the latter a Democratic Indianapolis city council member, demonstrated that profound political disagreement need not fracture personal relationships during a candid appearance on The Unknowns, hosted by Charlie Stone.Nathan Roberts expressed unwavering support for President Donald Trump, citing his immigration stance, foreign policy, economic approach, and unfiltered style since 2016. “I’ve been on the Trump train since 2016,” he said, crediting Trump with reshaping the Republican Party. Nick Roberts offered a starkly contrasting view, calling Trump complicit in threats to democracy, a “clown show” on the global…

The recent rapid advance in the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) applications I think qualifies as a disruptive technology. The term “disruptive technology” was popularized in 1997 by Clayton M. Christensen. To summarize, a disruptive technology is “an innovation that fundamentally alters the way industries operate, businesses function, or consumers behave, often rendering existing technologies, products, or services obsolete.” AI is potentially so powerful, and changing so quickly, that it is challenging to optimally regulate it. We are caught in a classic dilemma – we do not want to hamper our own competitiveness in a critical new technology, but we…

To listen to Gov. Gavin Newsom, California is still the nation’s economic leader. In his April 9 news release, he crows, “California continues to outperform every other state.” Rosy reports from politicians are not an accurate barometer of real conditions. According to the latest Bureau of Economic Analysis data, California’s economy expanded 5% in 2025. This was the 15th fastest rate in the country – not the fastest, as Newsom crows. It was faster than Texas (4.9%) but slower than Florida (6.3%). Still, 15th is a top-third growth performance, not bad. But California’s longer-term growth comparisons are less favorable. Relative…

From last week’s decision by Judge Virginia Kendall (N.D. Ill.) in Obi v. Cook County: The Court strikes Plaintiff’s motion [to alter or amend the judgment dismissing her complaint] for violating Local Rule 7.1 and sanctions her $5,000 for violating Rule 11. Plaintiff’s motion is 10.5 pages single-spaced and her core argument runs six straight pages in a single paragraph. 10.5 single-spaced pages is 21 pages double-spaced. Plaintiff’s reply briefs are 23 pages single-spaced (46 pages double-spaced) and 13 pages single-spaced (26 pages double-spaced). Plaintiff never sought leave to file such voluminous papers. The lack of table of contents is…

President Donald Trump said he is willing to take weapons that NATO had bought for Ukraine and send them to the Middle East for the war against Iran.  During a cabinet meeting on Thursday, President Donald Trump was asked about a Washington Post report that weapons that were scheduled to be sent to Ukraine were redirected. He explained the US frequently takes that action. Reporter: Is the U.S. diverting some munitions that were meant for Ukraine to the Middle East? Trump: We do that all the time. We have a lot of munitions. Sometimes we take from one and use…

House for sale, Williams, California. Photo: Jeffrey St. Clair. With so much going on, I managed to miss the release of data on existing home sales for March. According to the National Association of Realtors, it was down by 3.3 percent from February and 1.0 percent from March of last year. Sales were down in all four major regions, but the drop was sharpest in the Northeast with a 8.5 percent month-over-month drop and 12.2 percent year-over-year. Interestingly, the West, which is largely California, is doing best. The one-month decline was just 1.3 percent, and sales were up 1.3 percent…

Trump vs. Pope Leo: Catholics Warn of Serious Juncture Source link