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  • Victor Hanson: The Greatest Democrat Fear?

    Victor Hanson: The Greatest Democrat Fear?

    Authored by Victor Davis Hanson,

    President Donald Trump’s greatest achievement within six months was simply ending illegal immigration as we had once known it — without “comprehensive immigration reform” or any other rhetorical trickery.

    It remains difficult to find, much less deport, the 10 to 12 million illegal aliens who entered in the last four years.

    Those who helped break the law, by design or indifference, now believe it was moral to destroy federal immigration law but immoral to uphold it.

    And it is still unclear whether former President Joe Biden’s handlers deliberately sabotaged their own border for political and demographic purposes out of sheer orneriness or utter incompetence.

    Many of the left’s cherished totems — massive Green New Deal subsidies, the diversity/equity/inclusion industry, biological males competing in women’s sports, and the USAID revolving door — are either comatose or in their death throes.

    The historic drop-off in military recruitment reversed shortly after Trump took office.

    Republican voter registration is up, and Democratic registration is down.

    Abroad, Trump finds remarkable successes.

    For now, there are pauses in the fighting between India and Pakistan, Egypt and Somalia, Cambodia and Thailand, Rwanda and Congo, Serbia and Kosovo, and Armenia and Azerbaijan.

    Much credit is due to Trump for brokering ceasefires.

    Iran will not get a bomb in the next four years — as seemed likely when Biden left office.

    The Middle East’s current most grotesque terrorist cadres and states — Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis — are far weaker than they were when Trump entered office in January.

    There is at least some engagement in envisioning the outlines of a ceasefire in Trump’s inherited Ukraine War.

    The rub is finding the degree of ordnance necessary to convince Putin that increasing Russia’s casualties to more than one million will endanger his own dictatorship sooner than destroy Ukraine.

    Breaking up the new three-billion-person China/India/Russia nexus hinges on ending the war.

    The economy is still strong. Gas prices are at historic lows. Increases in all types of energy production proceed full bore.

    Current GDP, inflation, unemployment, and the stock market — all at one time or another said to be in a crisis state — remain strong. Talk of an impending recession or hyperinflation is mostly muted.

    No one quite knows either the full effects of Trump’s tariffs — especially given the injunctions issued by left-wing district justices — or of the promised over $10 trillion in foreign investments.

    Much of Trump’s agenda will hinge on whether interest rates are lowered, Republicans survive the midterms, and the degree to which unelected left-wing lower-court justices can be stopped from hijacking the Constitution and de facto running the country.

    As for the Democratic opposition, there is no counter agenda, no shadow government responsible leadership, and no willingness to craft bipartisan legislation.

    Instead, the left’s strategy is that of the kamikaze: to destroy Trump at the cost of destroying the Democratic Party.

    Otherwise, Democrats seek to prove so obnoxious in demonizing Trump that they create such mass hysteria that the weary electorate figuratively lies down, closes its eyes, covers its ears, and screams nonstop, “Make them all go away!”

    Former foul-mouthed vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is now reduced to a ghoulish status. He recently boasted to an audience that rumors of Trump’s death — who survived two assassination attempts last summer — will thankfully one day prove true. 

    The top of the failed ticket, Kamala Harris, wanders aimlessly without an office, constituency, audience, or ideas.

    To remain viable, she knows she must continue touring and speaking.

    But Harris accepts that the more anyone hears her word salads, the more they will remember her 2024 train wreck.

    Head of the Democratic Party, Ken Martin, now screams that Trump is a fascist.

    But by what standards does he judge? Did Trump try to take his rivals off state ballots?

    Does he advocate for destroying the filibuster, the Electoral College, and the 156-year-old nine-justice Supreme Court, or packing the Senate by admitting two new states?

    Are local, state, and federal prosecutors — a la Bragg, James, Smith, and Willis — coordinating with the White House and DOJ to indict Trump’s current chief adversaries, such as Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, or Josh Shapiro?

    Did Trumpers hire a foreign spy to concoct a fake hit dossier on Democratic grandees?

    Are his subordinates now spreading it to the media?

    Are 51 conservative former CIA contractors and retired spooks swearing that Newsom or Harris is working with the Russians, Chinese, or any of our enemies?

    The greatest Democrat fear?

    That it has so institutionalized excessive executive orders, ad hominem lawfare, lower-court usurpation, state nullification of federal law, and federal intervention in higher education, the energy industry, and the nation’s open spaces that their own legacies empowered Trump and now will boomerang upon themselves — as the public applauds the karma.

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  • China’s Producer Deflation Plunges to Two‑Year Low in Troubled Trade Climate

    China’s Producer Deflation Plunges to Two‑Year Low in Troubled Trade Climate

    China’s Factory Prices Take the Biggest Dip in Two Years – and It’s Not Because of a Bubble

    Why the plunge matters: When factories drop their prices, the economy’s heartbeat slows. In June, China saw its lowest factory-gate price change in 24 months, a real shocker given how tight the market had been.

    What’s Behind the Numbers?

    • Trade uncertainty: Global trade talks feel like a bad game of “Guess the next move,” leaving manufacturers unsure whether to invest or hold back.
    • Soft domestic demand: Consumers in China are as cautious as a child on a scooter, spilling the brakes on purchases that used to fuel factory sales.
    • Commodity price swings: Ever notice how raw material costs can jump or drop faster than a roller coaster? That’s the kind of volatility factories hate.

    What It Looks Like on the Ground

    Picture this: A factory set to ship out a batch of steel sheets – the price tags suddenly get slapped down because the market’s cooling. The factories scramble to adjust, and the result is a total drop in factory-gate prices that’s bigger than a two‑year roller‑coaster drop.

    How the Numbers Stack Up

    Consumers and businesses alike count on these prices to guide their buying. When they slump, the market feels a bit like a house of cards, though experts say it’s likely temporary.

    Takeaway – The Ups and Downs of Factory Prices

    While the dip in June shows a market easing, it’s a reminder that international trade and domestic spending are tightly intertwined. The factory price slump highlights that both pieces need to stay in sync for a healthy economy.

    Chinese Industrial Prices Take a Dive in June 2025

    What the Numbers Say

    On July 9, the National Bureau of Statistics released a snapshot of China’s price landscape. The producer price index (PPI) for industrial goods slipped by 3.6 % in June, beating the 3.3 % fall seen in May, and marking the steepest yearly drop since July 2023. Meanwhile, the purchasing price index (PPI‑P) plunged a staggering 4.3 % from the previous year, the sharpest slide since August 2023.

    Why the Decline?

    • Energy hiccups – Lower power costs gave the PPI a quick hit.
    • Trade turbulence – Uncertainty surrounding global commerce exerted downward pressure.
    • Weather woes – Hot, wet conditions knocked building‑material costs low.

    Statistician Dong Lijuan highlighted that export‑heavy sectors were hit hardest. Prices for computers, cell‑phones, and other tech gear fell by 0.4 %, while electrical machinery and textiles slid by 0.2 % each. In year‑over‑year terms, tech equipment slipped a solid 2.3 %.

    Factory Activity and Employment

    China’s factories shrank for a third straight month in June, albeit at a slower pace than before. Employment and new export orders remained sluggish. “We anticipate further weakening of demand later this year,” said Zichun Huang of Capital Economics, pointing to a slowdown in exports and diminishing fiscal support.

    Market Reaction

    The stock markets took a cautious stance amid the ongoing U.S. trade uncertainty. Shanghai Composite ticked up by 0.3 % at midday, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell by 0.7 %.

    Consumer Side of the Story

    Though consumer prices rose by a modest 0.1 % from June 2024, the trend of deflation has lingered over the past four months. Economist Duncan Wrigley of Pantheon Macroeconomics cautioned that consumer inflation will hover near zero for the rest of the year, hampered by a protracted property downturn and job‑market jitters.

    Trade tensions between Washington and Beijing are expected to persist. “More flare‑ups are likely and cooling export growth will add to downward price pressure in manufactured goods sectors,” said Wrigley.

    International Trade Insights

    Descartes, a supply‑chain tech firm, reported that U.S. container imports from China totaled about 639,300 20‑foot units in June, a slight 0.4 % rise from May but a sharp 28.3 % drop from June 2024. The company predicts that China’s share of U.S. imports might stay pressured through the second half of 2025, especially with upcoming tariff pauses running out on August 1 and a trade truce set for August 12.

    Bottom Line

    China’s industrial and consumer price indices are taking a hard hit, reflecting weather quirks, energy price shifts, and a shaky global trade environment. While market players hold their breath, the story remains a bumpy ride—just like a rollercoaster with a few drops and turns. Let’s keep an eye on upcoming data releases and trade agreements to see if the currents shift in any direction.

  • 11 Alarming Signs Revealing Our Country’s Economic Turmoil

    11 Alarming Signs Revealing Our Country’s Economic Turmoil

    The US Economy? It’s a Messy, 3‑Minute Cookbook Recap

    What’s going on?

    In a world where shadow‑takers and anti‑ICE protests steal the spotlight, the U.S. economy takes a backseat and does a spectacular flop.

    • Housing market: Think of it as the beloved IKEA model that broke the one‑day assembly rule.
    • Consumer spending: It’s bottom‑heavy, like a skipped beat on a fluorescent light.
    • Layoffs: On the rise, as if the job market decided to take a coffee break.

    Why the Fed is still holding its lung?

    The cost‑of‑living circus has become a never‑ending show, so the Federal Reserve is shying away from cutting interest rates like that awkward typo in a top‑secret memo.

    And the politicians?

    There’s no “economic stimulus” playlist coming up from Washington—because the federal debt is already a headline act. The expectations of a hero wing‑in riding through are, unfortunately, a plot twist we won’t see until later.

    You’re Not Alone, Friend

    Finding yourself struggling in this rough economic terrain? Well, you’re in good company, and yes, there are ways to navigate this chaos—preferably with a sprinkle of humor and a side of real‑world coping tips.

    Why the U.S. Economy Looks Trapped

    It’s like your favorite sitcom, but the character keeps slipping into the same low‑gravity trap. Below are the quirky yet alarming stats that paint the picture of a country wrestling with a budget crisis, a job market in reverse, and factories that can’t swim in the dry heat of February.

    #1 – New Home Sales Took a Whiff of a Cliff

    • May’s sales of brand‑new single‑family homes nosedived 13.7 % from April, landing at 623,000 units (seasonally adjusted).
    • That’s a dip of 6.3 % compared with May 2024, and it falls short of even a half‑year average.
    • Wall Street had inked 695,000 units in its crystal ball—a big miss.

    #2 – Home Prices Did a Snowball Drop

    • Prices fell for the second month straight: March dropped for the first time in 27 months.
    • April’s Case–Shiller Index slid 0.31 % month‑on‑month, the sharpest hit since December 2022.

    #3 – Existing Home Sales, The Same Old Slump

    • May’s existing home sales hit a low that hasn’t been touched since 2009.

    #4 – Retail Deals Missed the Mark

    • Consumer spending shrank 0.9 % in May—worse than the 0.6 % dip CEOs had guessed.
    • Gas sales and tension over tariffs crank the anxiety meter higher.

    #5 – The Labor Market Is Getting a Tummy Ache

    • The New York Fed says the workforce “deteriorated noticeably” in Q1.
    • Employers added 139,000 jobs in May, but the unemployment rate for 22‑27‑year‑olds jumped to 5.8 %—the highest since 2021.

    #6 – Jobs Are Snowing Out of the Office

    • U.S. firms announced a 47 % jump in May 2025 cutbacks versus the same time last year.
    • Nearly 94,000 layoffs—almost 16 % more than April’s 63,000.

    #7 – Overview of the First Five Months – It’s a Snowstorm

    • Summer‑to‑summer, 80 % more job cuts announced.
    • Total cutbacks this year: 696,309—short of the 2024 total by just 65,000.

    #8 – California Factories Are Saying “Goodbye”

    • Within a week, Amy’s Kitchen’s San Jose plant, Anheuser‑Busch’s Oakland hub, and several smaller facilities shut down.
    • Major hemorrhages: $1 million monthly lost, labor shortages, and supply chain headaches.

    #9 – Paramount’s 3.5 % Trim Is the Latest Chill

    • Three co‑CEOs delivered a memo telling 3.5 % of the U.S. workforce to put down their phones.

    #10 – Microsoft Play‑in‑Play Reboot > Xbox layoffs

    • Xbox is cutting staff again—fourth time in 18 months of reshuffling.
    • Uncertainty grips the gaming world.

    #11 – Google Gives Away “Buyouts” When Other Companies Cut Workers

    • Google’s staff across knowledge, engineering, marketing, and research have a buy‑out option.
    • We’re still counting how many volunteers will step into the exit corridor.

    It’s a roller‑coaster that feels like a D‑pendence, and we’re all clutching around our jobs for dear life. Remember the wave in 2008‑2009? The current sea looks just as dreadfully flooding. If you’ve got a job you love, keep its rhythm in your tight‑rope. And, as always, keep an eye out for the next chapter in this “perfect storm.”