Ironically because of all the new tariffs it is now way cheaper to make our chocolate bars we sell globally NOT in America because other countries don’t have a 20%+ tariff on our cogs https://x.com/MrBeast/status/1909621956258775458
Fuck me - the responses on that thread. Weaponised stupidity. Loud Trump supporters who literally have No Clue how anything works.
A multimillionaire grifter isn't the best-placed person to attack Trump's policies.
On Trump, this year bears repeating. Free trade always wins, even if you have to do it unilaterally. I might except some import controls to avoid dumping, but otherwise we should just drop all tariffs.
The only way to win a trade war is not to play it.
@EdKrassen This is what the Trump administration does. They create a fake problem and then claim to try and fix it.
“We can no longer build a ship in this country. Can no longer build an airplane in this country. Can no longer build a helicopter in this country. Couldn’t even build a Coast Guard Cutter in this country.”
FACTS: - Federal law requires major U.S. military and Coast Guard vessels to be built in the U.S. by American shipbuilders using U.S. labor and materials when possible. - The vast majority of U.S. military aircraft are manufactured domestically by American companies. - The World's largest aircraft manufacturer, Boeing is a U.S. Company. - The US exports more helicopters than any country in the world by far. - About 50% of all US Commercial Aircraft are built in America.
Exclusive: Trump’s tariffs have put the UK and EU back on course for a reset deal at the May summit in London
— progress made on efforts to secure a defence and security pact, sources on both sides say, after recent noises off
— there’s a desire to find an elegant solution on fishing rights to ensure the security pact isn’t delayed, sources say
— teams will continue fishing talks, and if a final agreement can’t be reached by next month then a commitment toward one or a framework and timeline for future negotiations could be made
— mood music has improved recently, as US tariffs spur a greater desire for closer cooperation and reduced trade barriers between allies in Europe, they add
— teams hope to close an agreement on a youth visa scheme, which looks like a slimmed-down version of the EU’s youth mobility demand
— May reset could also encompass mutual recognition of qualifications, linking UK/EU carbon markets and a resolution for travelling artists
— Starmer spoke to VDL, Macron, Scholz and Merz at weekend
— sources caution this is all subject to change ahead of the summit
The new, "reset" deal described above would be, generally speaking, a harder brexit than May's deal.
True. But if we're more back in the EU orbit - as we've nowhere else to go - there's every chance a government is elected at some point that sees a route back in as in its electoral interests.
Rather like Brexit itself, which simmered away as an impossibility touted by fruitcakes and loonies - though with wider sympathies among those eurosceptics who thought leaving a bridge too far - and cause of feuds on the right until a Tory PM found himself outflanked on the right and in dire need of those votes.
There may well come a point whereby a Labour PM or LoTO looks at private polling, and decides the risk of losing votes to the Lib Dems, SNP, and Greens with positions that are either rejoin or de facto doing so, is greater than reopening the Brexit wound by admitting "that was a bad idea, enough time has passed, the world has changed so let's reverse it".
Exclusive: Trump’s tariffs have put the UK and EU back on course for a reset deal at the May summit in London
— progress made on efforts to secure a defence and security pact, sources on both sides say, after recent noises off
— there’s a desire to find an elegant solution on fishing rights to ensure the security pact isn’t delayed, sources say
— teams will continue fishing talks, and if a final agreement can’t be reached by next month then a commitment toward one or a framework and timeline for future negotiations could be made
— mood music has improved recently, as US tariffs spur a greater desire for closer cooperation and reduced trade barriers between allies in Europe, they add
— teams hope to close an agreement on a youth visa scheme, which looks like a slimmed-down version of the EU’s youth mobility demand
— May reset could also encompass mutual recognition of qualifications, linking UK/EU carbon markets and a resolution for travelling artists
— Starmer spoke to VDL, Macron, Scholz and Merz at weekend
— sources caution this is all subject to change ahead of the summit
The new, "reset" deal described above would be, generally speaking, a harder brexit than May's deal.
Look at the direction of travel.
I think I will praise Donald Trump in the morning thread.
LOL. Those of you who want to join the EU really do resemble the anti-EC mob in about 1978. You’re all pining for a world that never really existed, ignoring the facts on the ground, and refusing to accept the new status quo or any likely future. You’re a bunch of modern Colonel Blimps.
We won’t ever rejoin the EU, but we will be critical to what the European Political Community becomes.
That’s an interesting, and quite encouraging, analogy to draw.
Exclusive: Trump’s tariffs have put the UK and EU back on course for a reset deal at the May summit in London
— progress made on efforts to secure a defence and security pact, sources on both sides say, after recent noises off
— there’s a desire to find an elegant solution on fishing rights to ensure the security pact isn’t delayed, sources say
— teams will continue fishing talks, and if a final agreement can’t be reached by next month then a commitment toward one or a framework and timeline for future negotiations could be made
— mood music has improved recently, as US tariffs spur a greater desire for closer cooperation and reduced trade barriers between allies in Europe, they add
— teams hope to close an agreement on a youth visa scheme, which looks like a slimmed-down version of the EU’s youth mobility demand
— May reset could also encompass mutual recognition of qualifications, linking UK/EU carbon markets and a resolution for travelling artists
— Starmer spoke to VDL, Macron, Scholz and Merz at weekend
— sources caution this is all subject to change ahead of the summit
The new, "reset" deal described above would be, generally speaking, a harder brexit than May's deal.
True. But if we're more back in the EU orbit - as we've nowhere else to go - there's every chance a government is elected at some point that sees a route back in as in its electoral interests.
Rather like Brexit itself, which simmered away as an impossibility touted by fruitcakes and loonies - though with wider sympathies among those eurosceptics who thought leaving a bridge too far - and cause of feuds on the right until a Tory PM found himself outflanked on the right and in dire need of those votes.
There may well come a point whereby a Labour PM or LoTO looks at private polling, and decides the risk of losing votes to the Lib Dems, SNP, and Greens with positions that are either rejoin or de facto doing so, is greater than reopening the Brexit wound by admitting "that was a bad idea, enough time has passed, the world has changed so let's reverse it".
Oh, it could happen. Only slightly more likely than Canada joining the US, but it could happen.
It would need a Farage - an outside figure to force an establishment party's hand. I don't think a party would do it by itself.
Not ideal to be a former prison governor who's probably going to jail.
"Prison governor facing jail for affair with drug lord Former governor of HMP Kirkham guilty of two counts of misconduct in a public office and possession of criminal property"
Not ideal to be a former prison governor who's probably going to jail.
"Prison governor facing jail for affair with drug lord Former governor of HMP Kirkham guilty of two counts of misconduct in a public office and possession of criminal property"
I saw that on the BBC page. Salary of £30k (if accurate) for a prison governor seems low, and maybe part of the problem.
£30k net after tax, pensions, deductions surely? Still very low but not ludicrous.
I think prison governor is a term that is not just applies to the prison boss, but also includes a lot of more junior staff, effectively the managers of prison staff., so there are many per prison.
Not ideal to be a former prison governor who's probably going to jail.
"Prison governor facing jail for affair with drug lord Former governor of HMP Kirkham guilty of two counts of misconduct in a public office and possession of criminal property"
I saw that on the BBC page. Salary of £30k (if accurate) for a prison governor seems low, and maybe part of the problem.
£30k net after tax, pensions, deductions surely? Still very low but not ludicrous.
I think prison governor is a term that is not just applies to the prison boss, but also includes a lot of more junior staff, effectively the managers of prison staff., so there are many per prison.
Ah ok - every day's a school day!
Guess it's a bit like how every story about a rogue back office person in a bank involves a "trader".
Not ideal to be a former prison governor who's probably going to jail.
"Prison governor facing jail for affair with drug lord Former governor of HMP Kirkham guilty of two counts of misconduct in a public office and possession of criminal property"
Not ideal to be a former prison governor who's probably going to jail.
"Prison governor facing jail for affair with drug lord Former governor of HMP Kirkham guilty of two counts of misconduct in a public office and possession of criminal property"
I saw that on the BBC page. Salary of £30k (if accurate) for a prison governor seems low, and maybe part of the problem.
£30k net after tax, pensions, deductions surely? Still very low but not ludicrous.
I think prison governor is a term that is not just applies to the prison boss, but also includes a lot of more junior staff, effectively the managers of prison staff., so there are many per prison.
Not ideal to be a former prison governor who's probably going to jail.
"Prison governor facing jail for affair with drug lord Former governor of HMP Kirkham guilty of two counts of misconduct in a public office and possession of criminal property"
I have no idea if the UK should be being conciliatory or defiant in tone, if we should impose retaliatory tariffs or not, or what if any concessions we should bring to the negotiating table. I do know that if the government are paying any attention at all to opinion polls to determine their answers to these questions that would be a terrible mistake...
At least 70 panic stricken countries this evening ringing White House phones off hook begging Trump to give them a deal, that they wouldn’t even be thinking of if it wasn’t for Trumps Shock and Awe tactics the last week. EU sending Meloni to negotiate deal for EU. Starmer close to finalising the US trade deal Kemi and Conservatives spent years putting together for UK, and Kemi telling PM to hurry up and sign, for the sake of British jobs and British workers.
Trump is winning.
I can't think anything in that post that is accurate. 70 is trumps number so almost by definition an exaggeration. The EU is not sending Meloni to negotiate a deal she is going of her own accord to represent Italy.
And last but not least if you think Trump is winning you must be pissed or stoned
"Italian premier Giorgia Meloni will head to the US to negotiate tariff relief directly with US President Donald Trump, in a move coordinated with the European Union."
Trump backs down - because Europe won't make Murica VAT exempt or pay reparations. Meloni leaves without a deal and the EU implements reciprocity
Either way, America loses
I can understand how he has ended up with his view on VAT.
VAT works by allowing companies to reclaim VAT expenses against the VAT they charge. This is a design feature, not a bug.
However if you are US importer with no VAT expenses you can’t take advantage of this so are on the hook for the full 20%. From that perspective it does appear like differential treatment of US vs UK/European firms.
Absolutely: the key is to remember that as VAT is charged at every stage, then the ultimate amount of tax paid is the same whether goods are made locally or are imported.
Ironically because of all the new tariffs it is now way cheaper to make our chocolate bars we sell globally NOT in America because other countries don’t have a 20%+ tariff on our cogs https://x.com/MrBeast/status/1909621956258775458
Fuck me - the responses on that thread. Weaponised stupidity. Loud Trump supporters who literally have No Clue how anything works.
BBC film dubbed 'the most disturbing ever made' with perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score rebooted by Adolescence producers - warning 'a whole new generation will get nightmares‘
Exclusive: Trump’s tariffs have put the UK and EU back on course for a reset deal at the May summit in London
— progress made on efforts to secure a defence and security pact, sources on both sides say, after recent noises off
— there’s a desire to find an elegant solution on fishing rights to ensure the security pact isn’t delayed, sources say
— teams will continue fishing talks, and if a final agreement can’t be reached by next month then a commitment toward one or a framework and timeline for future negotiations could be made
— mood music has improved recently, as US tariffs spur a greater desire for closer cooperation and reduced trade barriers between allies in Europe, they add
— teams hope to close an agreement on a youth visa scheme, which looks like a slimmed-down version of the EU’s youth mobility demand
— May reset could also encompass mutual recognition of qualifications, linking UK/EU carbon markets and a resolution for travelling artists
— Starmer spoke to VDL, Macron, Scholz and Merz at weekend
— sources caution this is all subject to change ahead of the summit
The new, "reset" deal described above would be, generally speaking, a harder brexit than May's deal.
Look at the direction of travel.
I think I will praise Donald Trump in the morning thread.
LOL. Those of you who want to join the EU really do resemble the anti-EC mob in about 1978. You’re all pining for a world that never really existed, ignoring the facts on the ground, and refusing to accept the new status quo or any likely future. You’re a bunch of modern Colonel Blimps.
We won’t ever rejoin the EU, but we will be critical to what the European Political Community becomes.
You do realise that a majority of those polled in 1978 said they would vote the leave the EEC, if there were a referendum ?
The largest ever majority against leaving the EEC/EU ... is since we left.
BBC film dubbed 'the most disturbing ever made' with perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score rebooted by Adolescence producers - warning 'a whole new generation will get nightmares‘
The King can stay mad longer than the market stays solvent.
We are about to test that theory to destruction
The King can only stay mad as long as his courtiers let him. Can they stay their hands when the market is insolvent? Not so sure...
My own view - probably wrong - is that the Trump administration will fall apart by itself, and when it happens, it will be quick. You have a load of narcissistic individuals, over-confident in their own intelligence and ability, who are pretty much incapable of subordinating themselves to others. When their ambitions are the same, that is fine. What they conflict, not so much. There can only be take, not give.
As pressure - probably economic - grows, so these individuals will see the way forward differently, as their own interests trump those of Trump's regime or the good of the country.
The arguments will be massive, and public. Many of them will end up hating each other more than they hate the Democrats or liberals.
"...Trump was asked on Monday whether the tariffs set the stage for negotiations with countries, or were permanent. “Well, it can both be true,” he told reporters. “There can be permanent tariffs, and there can also be negotiations.”.."
"...Trump was asked on Monday whether the tariffs set the stage for negotiations with countries, or were permanent. “Well, it can both be true,” he told reporters. “There can be permanent tariffs, and there can also be negotiations.”.."
"...Trump was asked on Monday whether the tariffs set the stage for negotiations with countries, or were permanent. “Well, it can both be true,” he told reporters. “There can be permanent tariffs, and there can also be negotiations.”.."
Any country trying to make a "deal" with him will be offered the same type of "deal" that he is offering Zelinsky.
"You will lift all your tariffs and lift all your biosecurity regulations, and in return you will get absolutely nothing, but I will consider your debt to America, for past trade surpluses, to have been repaid."
US Bond rout... the only question is the speed. Last AAA must be gone now.
This is also a nightmare for Reeves. The one potential upside of this shambles was that both a flight to safety and lower interest rates would drive down borrowing costs. If the market starts to get twitchy about lending to financially stretched sovereigns we are in for a world of pain.
Nah, just unconstitutional. Casting out Truss and Rees-Mogg was the voters' job.
Jesus isn't MAGA anyway. In America he'd clearly back Bernie, and here I've always seen him as a LibDem - bearded, well meaning and sandal-wearing, but spouting pious, muddled and impractical crap.
If only MAGA and the LibDems were more like Jesus, i.e. non-existent.
When we liquidated my grandfather's estate in South Africa in the 90s, me and my father bought diamonds in Cape Town. I smuggled them out of South Africa on a merchant ship from Simonstown to Rotterdam by putting them in an alumium cigar tube and sticking them up my arse. This was a technique I recalled from reading Papillon as a teenager. I took a train from Rotterdam to Anvers and sold them for USD over the counter, no questions asked.
So my tip on how to retrain as a smuggler is to practice shoving things up your shitpipe.
US Bond rout... the only question is the speed. Last AAA must be gone now.
This is also a nightmare for Reeves. The one potential upside of this shambles was that both a flight to safety and lower interest rates would drive down borrowing costs. If the market starts to get twitchy about lending to financially stretched sovereigns we are in for a world of pain.
Team Trump plan to stay the course and hope to ride it out.
Nah, just unconstitutional. Casting out Truss and Rees-Mogg was the voters' job.
Jesus isn't MAGA anyway. In America he'd clearly back Bernie, and here I've always seen him as a LibDem - bearded, well meaning and sandal-wearing, but spouting pious, muddled and impractical crap.
If only MAGA and the LibDems were more like Jesus, i.e. non-existent.
I see Bernie is giving some backing to tariffs.
If he wants to really bugger Donald, he should say that Trump is implementing the proper American socialist programme he's always asked for.
But I’m consistently good at avoiding baseball references in work. We need to enforce a complete boycott of baseball terminology, and introduce more cricket, rugby and football into biz jargon.
Out with touch base, circle back, wheelhouse, curveball, three strikes and you’re out; in with close of play, sticky wicket, straight bat, stumped, open goal, kicked into touch, back of the net, and scrum teams.
That's a bit of a left-field idea.
Rugby is just American "football" without the namby-pamby armor, er, I mean armour!
No it isn't.. for starters US football allows forward passes and has ridiculous words such as scrimmage instead of scrummage. .
Thanks to NZ inspired rule tinkering union also seems to allow forward passes most of the time. Some bullshit about players momentum making it seem that passes are forward when they are not…
League’s very twitchy about forward passes and being offside.
Gerrem onside is a favourite shout.
Hhhm. Cf Rugby League Stevo was forever taking about it being OK because of the momentum rule....
"...Trump was asked on Monday whether the tariffs set the stage for negotiations with countries, or were permanent. “Well, it can both be true,” he told reporters. “There can be permanent tariffs, and there can also be negotiations.”.."
Any country trying to make a "deal" with him will be offered the same type of "deal" that he is offering Zelinsky.
"You will lift all your tariffs and lift all your biosecurity regulations, and in return you will get absolutely nothing, but I will consider your debt to America, for past trade surpluses, to have been repaid."
Not only a rip off, but a rip off deal that Trump will discard as soon as he is minded to.
We should make no concessions, deal only with trustworthy countries.
When we liquidated my grandfather's estate in South Africa in the 90s, me and my father bought diamonds in Cape Town. I smuggled them out of South Africa on a merchant ship from Simonstown to Rotterdam by putting them in an alumium cigar tube and sticking them up my arse. This was a technique I recalled from reading Papillon as a teenager. I took a train from Rotterdam to Anvers and sold them for USD over the counter, no questions asked.
So my tip on how to retrain as a smuggler is to practice shoving things up your shitpipe.
Wasn’t it rather uncomfortable sitting down on the train ?
When we liquidated my grandfather's estate in South Africa in the 90s, me and my father bought diamonds in Cape Town. I smuggled them out of South Africa on a merchant ship from Simonstown to Rotterdam by putting them in an alumium cigar tube and sticking them up my arse. This was a technique I recalled from reading Papillon as a teenager. I took a train from Rotterdam to Anvers and sold them for USD over the counter, no questions asked.
So my tip on how to retrain as a smuggler is to practice shoving things up your shitpipe.
Wasn’t it rather uncomfortable sitting down on the train ?
I’m guessing the tube wasn’t in for the entirety of the journey, just the customs points, however, it might have just felt good in which case the train journey might have been pleasurable - each to their own.
When we liquidated my grandfather's estate in South Africa in the 90s, me and my father bought diamonds in Cape Town. I smuggled them out of South Africa on a merchant ship from Simonstown to Rotterdam by putting them in an alumium cigar tube and sticking them up my arse. This was a technique I recalled from reading Papillon as a teenager. I took a train from Rotterdam to Anvers and sold them for USD over the counter, no questions asked.
So my tip on how to retrain as a smuggler is to practice shoving things up your shitpipe.
It's all going to plan from Trump's point of view. He's trying to cause chaos, and succeeding.
What the more frenzied commentary on this doesn't seem to realise is that everyone could be right. This could lead to a lot more manufacturing in the US (understand from PB that JCB are expanding their Texas operations due to it), whilst also costing US companies that manufacture overseas a lot of money, thus affecting their share price. I really don't see the contradiction or irony.
Nah, just unconstitutional. Casting out Truss and Rees-Mogg was the voters' job.
Jesus isn't MAGA anyway. In America he'd clearly back Bernie, and here I've always seen him as a LibDem - bearded, well meaning and sandal-wearing, but spouting pious, muddled and impractical crap.
If only MAGA and the LibDems were more like Jesus, i.e. non-existent.
Deluded I'm afraid @Fishing. It is Tory councils for instance that bankrupted councils and are now being sorted by those 'muddled and impractical' LDs applying commonse policies and not speculating in areas they know nothing about like the Tories did.
US Bond rout... the only question is the speed. Last AAA must be gone now.
This is also a nightmare for Reeves. The one potential upside of this shambles was that both a flight to safety and lower interest rates would drive down borrowing costs. If the market starts to get twitchy about lending to financially stretched sovereigns we are in for a world of pain.
Hmm... alternatively, if you want to put money in bonds and can't trust the US... surely you choose bonds from another country? Like maybe the UK?
When we liquidated my grandfather's estate in South Africa in the 90s, me and my father bought diamonds in Cape Town. I smuggled them out of South Africa on a merchant ship from Simonstown to Rotterdam by putting them in an alumium cigar tube and sticking them up my arse. This was a technique I recalled from reading Papillon as a teenager. I took a train from Rotterdam to Anvers and sold them for USD over the counter, no questions asked.
So my tip on how to retrain as a smuggler is to practice shoving things up your shitpipe.
This is why we come to PB, for the kind of invaluable insights you will never find elsewhere.
It's all going to plan from Trump's point of view. He's trying to cause chaos, and succeeding.
What the more frenzied commentary on this doesn't seem to realise is that everyone could be right. This could lead to a lot more manufacturing in the US (understand from PB that JCB are expanding their Texas operations due to it), whilst also costing US companies that manufacture overseas a lot of money, thus affecting their share price. I really don't see the contradiction or irony.
The problem is that new factories cannot be set up overnight, and require machinery and other items not made (in enough numbers, or at all) in the USA, and hefty amounts of capital, which is now more expensive.
It is a task of several years; more so if everyone is trying to do it at once (also pushing up the prices...). I'd also question where the manpower for all these factories is going to come from; even with automation, people are still required.
When we liquidated my grandfather's estate in South Africa in the 90s, me and my father bought diamonds in Cape Town. I smuggled them out of South Africa on a merchant ship from Simonstown to Rotterdam by putting them in an alumium cigar tube and sticking them up my arse. This was a technique I recalled from reading Papillon as a teenager. I took a train from Rotterdam to Anvers and sold them for USD over the counter, no questions asked.
So my tip on how to retrain as a smuggler is to practice shoving things up your shitpipe.
A tip our Leon should ignore, lest he choke.
No, if he chokes he’s inserted it into the wrong orifice
It's all going to plan from Trump's point of view. He's trying to cause chaos, and succeeding.
What the more frenzied commentary on this doesn't seem to realise is that everyone could be right. This could lead to a lot more manufacturing in the US (understand from PB that JCB are expanding their Texas operations due to it), whilst also costing US companies that manufacture overseas a lot of money, thus affecting their share price. I really don't see the contradiction or irony.
No, it will not lead to more manufacturing in the US.
Businesses need certainty before they will invest the millions of dollars needed for new manucturing plants.
There is zero certainty about what the tariff rates will be next week, never mind the tariff rates in January 2029.
Trump has directed the Department of Justice to stop pursuing crypto fraud, dismantling the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and ordering the Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit to cease cryptocurrency enforcement.
Nah, just unconstitutional. Casting out Truss and Rees-Mogg was the voters' job.
Jesus isn't MAGA anyway. In America he'd clearly back Bernie, and here I've always seen him as a LibDem - bearded, well meaning and sandal-wearing, but spouting pious, muddled and impractical crap.
If only MAGA and the LibDems were more like Jesus, i.e. non-existent.
Deluded I'm afraid @Fishing. It is Tory councils for instance that bankrupted councils and are now being sorted by those 'muddled and impractical' LDs applying commonse policies and not speculating in areas they know nothing about like the Tories did.
Yep. It’s boggling that the remaining right wingers still think their way is the right way when the Tories have delivered the catastrofuck on so many things. Pious - like Badenoch? Muddled - like Truss? Impractical- like Boris?
It's all going to plan from Trump's point of view. He's trying to cause chaos, and succeeding.
What the more frenzied commentary on this doesn't seem to realise is that everyone could be right. This could lead to a lot more manufacturing in the US (understand from PB that JCB are expanding their Texas operations due to it), whilst also costing US companies that manufacture overseas a lot of money, thus affecting their share price. I really don't see the contradiction or irony.
The problem is that new factories cannot be set up overnight, and require machinery and other items not made (in enough numbers, or at all) in the USA, and hefty amounts of capital, which is now more expensive.
It is a task of several years; more so if everyone is trying to do it at once (also pushing up the prices...). I'd also question where the manpower for all these factories is going to come from; even with automation, people are still required.
It also requires a stable business situation - you aren’t going to invest millions if the rules may change tomorrows
So with no guarantee the tariffs won’t be gone tomorrow, a lot of expensive capital required and a lead time of years no one is going to be rushing to invest in a USA factory
When we liquidated my grandfather's estate in South Africa in the 90s, me and my father bought diamonds in Cape Town. I smuggled them out of South Africa on a merchant ship from Simonstown to Rotterdam by putting them in an alumium cigar tube and sticking them up my arse. This was a technique I recalled from reading Papillon as a teenager. I took a train from Rotterdam to Anvers and sold them for USD over the counter, no questions asked.
So my tip on how to retrain as a smuggler is to practice shoving things up your shitpipe.
This is why we come to PB, for the kind of invaluable insights you will never find elsewhere.
Quite. You just don't get that sort of priceless information in the FT.
When we liquidated my grandfather's estate in South Africa in the 90s, me and my father bought diamonds in Cape Town. I smuggled them out of South Africa on a merchant ship from Simonstown to Rotterdam by putting them in an alumium cigar tube and sticking them up my arse. This was a technique I recalled from reading Papillon as a teenager. I took a train from Rotterdam to Anvers and sold them for USD over the counter, no questions asked.
So my tip on how to retrain as a smuggler is to practice shoving things up your shitpipe.
I recall reading that at the same age. Never felt like trying it, but as the world enters its dystopian era, I might pick up a couple of cigar tubes.
Nah, just unconstitutional. Casting out Truss and Rees-Mogg was the voters' job.
Jesus isn't MAGA anyway. In America he'd clearly back Bernie, and here I've always seen him as a LibDem - bearded, well meaning and sandal-wearing, but spouting pious, muddled and impractical crap.
If only MAGA and the LibDems were more like Jesus, i.e. non-existent.
A deep misunderstanding both of Christ and the Lib Dems I'd suggest.
Yep. It’s boggling that the remaining right wingers still think their way is the right way when the Tories have delivered the catastrofuck on so many things. Pious - like Badenoch? Muddled - like Truss? Impractical- like Boris?
Just because it was implemented incompetently doesn't mean it isn't the right policy. A good politician has to be both competent and right.
The LibDems are neither, at least on a national level, which is what matters in this country. Which is why their one experience in central government in recent decades halved their vote share and cut their seats by more than 80% and caused their ghastly leader to flee to America.
Why is sterling plummeting against the euro? It's dropped about 2 1/2 cents over the past few days. Why would Trump's tariffs have that effect?
The further the market is from the US, the better. The UK is not benefitting from relative closeness to Trump.
The best case scenario from here is that the crash disproportionately impacts the US. The problem is that in the short run, the tide is going out on all financial assets. The bond rout will probably hurt even more than the US tech/equities rout, unless the Fed takes drastic action. However Trump is already taking aim at Fed independence. I think we could see Powell come under such pressure that he has to go. Such a "drop the pilot" moment would make the volatility we have seen so far look like a walk in the park.
So the markets are already looking beyond the tariffs. The Trump crash is destroying confidence not just in the price of financial assets, but the system that sets those prices. There is zero confidence in the competence or even basic understanding of economics among Trump´s gang, so the idea that all of the grown ups are now leaving the party is not going to end well. The ketamine addled f*ckwits are quite likely to burn the house down, and the fire brigade were all sacked last week.
Comments
The only way to win a trade war is not to play it.
Ed Krassenstein
@EdKrassen
This is what the Trump administration does. They create a fake problem and then claim to try and fix it.
“We can no longer build a ship in this country. Can no longer build an airplane in this country. Can no longer build a helicopter in this country. Couldn’t even build a Coast Guard Cutter in this country.”
FACTS:
- Federal law requires major U.S. military and Coast Guard vessels to be built in the U.S. by American shipbuilders using U.S. labor and materials when possible.
- The vast majority of U.S. military aircraft are manufactured domestically by American companies.
- The World's largest aircraft manufacturer, Boeing is a U.S. Company.
- The US exports more helicopters than any country in the world by far.
- About 50% of all US Commercial Aircraft are built in America.
https://x.com/EdKrassen/status/1909689918789693889
Rather like Brexit itself, which simmered away as an impossibility touted by fruitcakes and loonies - though with wider sympathies among those eurosceptics who thought leaving a bridge too far - and cause of feuds on the right until a Tory PM found himself outflanked on the right and in dire need of those votes.
There may well come a point whereby a Labour PM or LoTO looks at private polling, and decides the risk of losing votes to the Lib Dems, SNP, and Greens with positions that are either rejoin or de facto doing so, is greater than reopening the Brexit wound by admitting "that was a bad idea, enough time has passed, the world has changed so let's reverse it".
The empire is being dismantled
Mary Harrington"
https://unherd.com/2025/04/trump-was-a-decoloniser-all-along/
It would need a Farage - an outside figure to force an establishment party's hand. I don't think a party would do it by itself.
Guess it's a bit like how every story about a rogue back office person in a bank involves a "trader".
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/prison-governor
(Not that I give that too much credence it's totally wrong for my industry but that has a lot more variance)
BBC film dubbed 'the most disturbing ever made' with perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score rebooted by Adolescence producers - warning 'a whole new generation will get nightmares‘
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tv/article-14582975/BBC-film-Threads-netflix-Adolescence-producers.html
The largest ever majority against leaving the EEC/EU ... is since we left.
As Johnson tries to push through the Senate Budget, tensions are rising in the House.
In a closed door meeting Tuesday, Rep. Greg Steube yelled at Johnson “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”..
https://x.com/reesejgorman/status/1909739390818984378
We’re in for a bumpy ride.
https://x.com/kobeissiletter/status/1909819746096205898?s=61
As pressure - probably economic - grows, so these individuals will see the way forward differently, as their own interests trump those of Trump's regime or the good of the country.
The arguments will be massive, and public. Many of them will end up hating each other more than they hate the Democrats or liberals.
"...Trump was asked on Monday whether the tariffs set the stage for negotiations with countries, or were permanent. “Well, it can both be true,” he told reporters. “There can be permanent tariffs, and there can also be negotiations.”.."
"You will lift all your tariffs and lift all your biosecurity regulations, and in return you will get absolutely nothing, but I will consider your debt to America, for past trade surpluses, to have been repaid."
https://x.com/unusual_whales/status/1909767212917047789?s=61
As was 'somewhat.'
If only MAGA and the LibDems were more like Jesus, i.e. non-existent.
So my tip on how to retrain as a smuggler is to practice shoving things up your shitpipe.
Can they though.
https://x.com/cgasparino/status/1909749419836141961?s=61
If he wants to really bugger Donald, he should say that Trump is implementing the proper American socialist programme he's always asked for.
https://x.com/peterschiff/status/1909822222534955101?s=61
We should make no concessions, deal only with trustworthy countries.
It is a task of several years; more so if everyone is trying to do it at once (also pushing up the prices...). I'd also question where the manpower for all these factories is going to come from; even with automation, people are still required.
Businesses need certainty before they will invest the millions of dollars needed for new manucturing plants.
There is zero certainty about what the tariff rates will be next week, never mind the tariff rates in January 2029.
https://x.com/molly0xFFF/status/1909623512454647896
Trump has directed the Department of Justice to stop pursuing crypto fraud, dismantling the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and ordering the Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit to cease cryptocurrency enforcement.
So with no guarantee the tariffs won’t be gone tomorrow, a lot of expensive capital required and a lead time of years no one is going to be rushing to invest in a USA factory
NEW THREAD
Never felt like trying it, but as the world enters its dystopian era, I might pick up a couple of cigar tubes.
The LibDems are neither, at least on a national level, which is what matters in this country. Which is why their one experience in central government in recent decades halved their vote share and cut their seats by more than 80% and caused their ghastly leader to flee to America.
More to the point, WTF is going on with the hair ?
The best case scenario from here is that the crash disproportionately impacts the US. The problem is that in the short run, the tide is going out on all financial assets. The bond rout will probably hurt even more than the US tech/equities rout, unless the Fed takes drastic action. However Trump is already taking aim at Fed independence. I think we could see Powell come under such pressure that he has to go. Such a "drop the pilot" moment would make the volatility we have seen so far look like a walk in the park.
So the markets are already looking beyond the tariffs. The Trump crash is destroying confidence not just in the price of financial assets, but the system that sets those prices. There is zero confidence in the competence or even basic understanding of economics among Trump´s gang, so the idea that all of the grown ups are now leaving the party is not going to end well. The ketamine addled f*ckwits are quite likely to burn the house down, and the fire brigade were all sacked last week.