In recent years, Cubans have been forced to endure one of their worst shortages of basic necessities, such as food, medical supplies, and fuel. The fuel shortage has been particularly devastating, as it causes regular power outages, which makes it extremely difficult to work and engage in production, and obstructs the transport and distribution of goods across the island.
According to the Treasury Department’s monthly report for September, the budget deficit turned positive last month, with tax receipts coming in at $197 billion above federal outlays. This sizable one-month surplus was due to a large month-to-month drop in federal spending for the month. Contrary to what some protectionists and Trump advocates have claimed, however, the surplus was not significantly driven by tariff revenues.
Markets price in a near 97% probability of a 25-bp rate cut in Oct and a 94% probability of another 25-basis-point rate cut in Dec.
Trump’s rule-by-decree protectionism continues as he insists Americans must pay more taxes to get Canadian goods and raw materials.
The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will be 2.8% in 2026, the Social Security Administration said.
Napolitano: “The Trump administration has claimed that it can kill whomever it designates as an unlawful enemy combatant. The evidence is this: “trust me, bro.”
One area would be controlled by Hamas and the other controlled by the Israeli military.
Ever since I was young, I have enjoyed reading science fiction. Some of its attraction is the escapism it offers, but also the artistry of those who can envision a world where some things are very different but which seem to make enough internal sense to suspend disbelief and care about the characters. It also sometimes connects to or echoes recent “real world” circumstances (see my “The Road Back from Interstellar Serfdom,” for example).
[Defending Dixie: Essays in Southern History and Culture by Clyde N. Wilson (Shotwell Publishing, 2025[2006]; 474pp.)]
