Michael McKee
@mckonomy.bsky.social
International economics and policy for Bloomberg.
And some snark
Usually 35,000 feet above somewhere ✈️
And some snark
Usually 35,000 feet above somewhere ✈️
Just wanted to wish a little peace on earth to all of our service men and women on duty around the world. We wish you the happiest of holidays and pray somebody doesn't do anything stupid in the days and weeks ahead. Thank you and God bless.
December 26, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Just wanted to wish a little peace on earth to all of our service men and women on duty around the world. We wish you the happiest of holidays and pray somebody doesn't do anything stupid in the days and weeks ahead. Thank you and God bless.
Reposted by Michael McKee
Brain cooked like Christmas goose.
Trump: We track Santa. We want to make sure that Santa is being good. We want to make sure that he's not infiltrated, that we're not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa. Santa loves Oklahoma like I do. You know, Oklahoma was very good to me in the election
December 25, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Brain cooked like Christmas goose.
Reposted by Michael McKee
The 2025 Headline of the Year Nominees
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December 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM
The 2025 Headline of the Year Nominees
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The US Constitution, (Article II, Section 3):
"[The President] shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed …”
Public Law 88-260 (1964)
"The National Cultural Center, authorized by the Act of September 2, 1958...is hereby designated as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
"[The President] shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed …”
Public Law 88-260 (1964)
"The National Cultural Center, authorized by the Act of September 2, 1958...is hereby designated as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
December 21, 2025 at 12:55 AM
The US Constitution, (Article II, Section 3):
"[The President] shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed …”
Public Law 88-260 (1964)
"The National Cultural Center, authorized by the Act of September 2, 1958...is hereby designated as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
"[The President] shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed …”
Public Law 88-260 (1964)
"The National Cultural Center, authorized by the Act of September 2, 1958...is hereby designated as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Defacing a national monument. I can only imagine the question Joseph Welch would ask Karoline Leavitt. Or Donald Trump.
December 19, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Defacing a national monument. I can only imagine the question Joseph Welch would ask Karoline Leavitt. Or Donald Trump.
The people answering the surveys today were either not alive or not old enough to experience the Volcker years. There's no frame of reference for them.
(Unlike for us old guys)
(Unlike for us old guys)
Consumer confidence data is basically useless for markets/econ forecasting at this point. There is just no universe where periods when inflation was 5x as high, real income growth was deeply negative, or unemployment was more than 2x current were better than the current backdrop.
December 19, 2025 at 3:56 PM
The people answering the surveys today were either not alive or not old enough to experience the Volcker years. There's no frame of reference for them.
(Unlike for us old guys)
(Unlike for us old guys)
It's not that you make the case, it's to whom. The people answering the surveys now were either not alive or not old enough to experience the Volcker years. There's no frame of reference.
(Except for us old folks)
(Except for us old folks)
I think this strengthens the case for Stancilism.
Immediate post pandemic economy was *weird* in a way that made it hard to compare it to similar years.
But we've got low unemployment and low inflation now. Very hard to make the case that now is worse than the Volcker shock.
Immediate post pandemic economy was *weird* in a way that made it hard to compare it to similar years.
But we've got low unemployment and low inflation now. Very hard to make the case that now is worse than the Volcker shock.
UMich consumer sentiment (current conditions) at 50.4 is a new all-time low -- going back to data from the 1970s.
December 19, 2025 at 3:53 PM
It's not that you make the case, it's to whom. The people answering the surveys now were either not alive or not old enough to experience the Volcker years. There's no frame of reference.
(Except for us old folks)
(Except for us old folks)
*TREASURY CONFIRMS AUCTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENT SCHEDULE FOR DEC 24,26
No holiday for you!
No holiday for you!
December 19, 2025 at 3:30 PM
*TREASURY CONFIRMS AUCTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENT SCHEDULE FOR DEC 24,26
No holiday for you!
No holiday for you!
Started:
China promises to buy 12 million metric tons of US soybeans by end of 2025.
Going:
Latest Agriculture Department data show China has purchased 3.8 million metric tons.
China promises to buy 12 million metric tons of US soybeans by end of 2025.
Going:
Latest Agriculture Department data show China has purchased 3.8 million metric tons.
December 19, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Started:
China promises to buy 12 million metric tons of US soybeans by end of 2025.
Going:
Latest Agriculture Department data show China has purchased 3.8 million metric tons.
China promises to buy 12 million metric tons of US soybeans by end of 2025.
Going:
Latest Agriculture Department data show China has purchased 3.8 million metric tons.
There is just no bottom. No shame. No morality.
December 19, 2025 at 1:48 AM
There is just no bottom. No shame. No morality.
I do fear RMS is correct.
Y'all are so cute with your "it's the deadline to release the Epstein Files" and "they can't rename the Kennedy Center without passing a law" stuff. Like he ever gives a flying fuck.
December 19, 2025 at 1:38 AM
I do fear RMS is correct.
Shot:
*TRUMP CLOSES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND DEC. 26
Chaser:
*NYSE SAYS STOCK MARKET HOURS UNCHANGED ON DEC. 24 AND DEC. 26
*TRUMP CLOSES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND DEC. 26
Chaser:
*NYSE SAYS STOCK MARKET HOURS UNCHANGED ON DEC. 24 AND DEC. 26
December 18, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Shot:
*TRUMP CLOSES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND DEC. 26
Chaser:
*NYSE SAYS STOCK MARKET HOURS UNCHANGED ON DEC. 24 AND DEC. 26
*TRUMP CLOSES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND DEC. 26
Chaser:
*NYSE SAYS STOCK MARKET HOURS UNCHANGED ON DEC. 24 AND DEC. 26
A week before Christmas, so of course the store down the street is full of holiday items.
December 18, 2025 at 7:24 PM
A week before Christmas, so of course the store down the street is full of holiday items.
A week before Christmas, so of course the store down the street is full of holiday items.
December 18, 2025 at 7:24 PM
A week before Christmas, so of course the store down the street is full of holiday items.
This is what the BLS CPI tables look like. Mostly blank spaces. You have to impute from 2-month changes in the annual rates. But imputing does suggest general good news.
December 18, 2025 at 1:52 PM
This is what the BLS CPI tables look like. Mostly blank spaces. You have to impute from 2-month changes in the annual rates. But imputing does suggest general good news.
A possible answer how Trump could pay $1776 bonus. DoD would essentially rename money already appropriated for troops. But the funding has specified recipients, so..? My guess is they'll just do it and dare courts to tell service members to send it back.
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
Trump rebrands Congressionally-approved troop housing subsidy as ‘warrior dividend’ bonus
More than $2.9 billion in reconciliation funds was allocated to beef up troop housing allowances. Now, it’s being used for $1,776 checks.
www.defenseone.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:41 AM
A possible answer how Trump could pay $1776 bonus. DoD would essentially rename money already appropriated for troops. But the funding has specified recipients, so..? My guess is they'll just do it and dare courts to tell service members to send it back.
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
Has anyone explained on what authority Trump can send out $1776 to service members?
U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 9), “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law.”
U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 9), “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law.”
December 18, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Has anyone explained on what authority Trump can send out $1776 to service members?
U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 9), “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law.”
U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 9), “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law.”
Do the networks who showed that have to report it to the FEC as a campaign contribution?
December 18, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Do the networks who showed that have to report it to the FEC as a campaign contribution?
Trump never disappoints. Just when you think he can't sink any lower than the Rob Reiner tweet, the White House installs plaques under the photos of previous presidents Trump installed on the colonnade.
This is what it says under Biden (remember, Trump posted an autopen photo instead of Biden): 1/8
This is what it says under Biden (remember, Trump posted an autopen photo instead of Biden): 1/8
December 17, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Trump never disappoints. Just when you think he can't sink any lower than the Rob Reiner tweet, the White House installs plaques under the photos of previous presidents Trump installed on the colonnade.
This is what it says under Biden (remember, Trump posted an autopen photo instead of Biden): 1/8
This is what it says under Biden (remember, Trump posted an autopen photo instead of Biden): 1/8
This is astounding. Wiles goes way off the reservation. In any other administration, this would be a huge story. Today, I fear, it's just another day in Trump-world:
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...
Susie Wiles Talks About The First Year of Trump’s Second Term (Part 1 of 2)
In the first half of ‘Vanity Fair’’s interview with Susie Wiles, the chief of staff discusses Elon Musk’s DOGE disaster, the FBI’s “incredible job” investigating January 6, and how Trump once berated ...
www.vanityfair.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:01 PM
This is astounding. Wiles goes way off the reservation. In any other administration, this would be a huge story. Today, I fear, it's just another day in Trump-world:
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...
Good 🥶morning and Happy Jobs Day to all who just-this-once are going celebrate on a Tuesday.
December 16, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Good 🥶morning and Happy Jobs Day to all who just-this-once are going celebrate on a Tuesday.
Trump's latest post - on Rob Reiner and his wife - is completely irrational. It's really bad.
December 15, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Trump's latest post - on Rob Reiner and his wife - is completely irrational. It's really bad.
Great performance by Denver has fans willing to believe. (At least for another week. IYKYK)
Bad news for Green Bay if Parsons has indeed torn his ACL
Bad news for Green Bay if Parsons has indeed torn his ACL
December 15, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Great performance by Denver has fans willing to believe. (At least for another week. IYKYK)
Bad news for Green Bay if Parsons has indeed torn his ACL
Bad news for Green Bay if Parsons has indeed torn his ACL
All of Wisconsin holds its breath.
December 14, 2025 at 11:49 PM
All of Wisconsin holds its breath.