Paul Graf
@paulginva.bsky.social
Retired lawyer. Moderate. Dog lover, cat tolerator. Grandfather. Vietnam vet. History, international relations, national security, high-profile litigation, economics, and a little politics.
Pinned
Paul Graf
@paulginva.bsky.social
· Jul 31
𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘈 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. –𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘋. 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘵
Donald Trump is Joe Biden now.
POTUS's job approval on prices is where Biden's was during peak inflation in 2022-23. Voters say 2:1 that Trump has made the economy worse. Oh, and consumer sentiment among independents hit a new all-time low in November.
POTUS's job approval on prices is where Biden's was during peak inflation in 2022-23. Voters say 2:1 that Trump has made the economy worse. Oh, and consumer sentiment among independents hit a new all-time low in November.
Donald Trump is Joe Biden now
The president's numbers on prices are where Biden's were during peak inflation in 2022-23.
www.gelliottmorris.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Donald Trump is Joe Biden now.
POTUS's job approval on prices is where Biden's was during peak inflation in 2022-23. Voters say 2:1 that Trump has made the economy worse. Oh, and consumer sentiment among independents hit a new all-time low in November.
POTUS's job approval on prices is where Biden's was during peak inflation in 2022-23. Voters say 2:1 that Trump has made the economy worse. Oh, and consumer sentiment among independents hit a new all-time low in November.
This could get out of hand quickly if it's not just bravado - or stupidity - speaking. The Latin Kings, founded in Chicago in 1954, is one of the largest Hispanic gangs in the world. The Chicago branch (there is another, much smaller group in NYC) has 20K-35K members. I just hope nobody gets killed.
Latin Kings issue order targeting federal agents in Chicago: CBP
News of the alert comes after shots were reportedly fired at federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation.
www.newsnationnow.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:39 PM
This could get out of hand quickly if it's not just bravado - or stupidity - speaking. The Latin Kings, founded in Chicago in 1954, is one of the largest Hispanic gangs in the world. The Chicago branch (there is another, much smaller group in NYC) has 20K-35K members. I just hope nobody gets killed.
The South Korean government might be happy; the companies might be happy; but 5he workers who were detained? Not so much. They're planning on suing but I suspect their companies and government might lean on them not to, so as to not cause difficulty for the orderly conduct of business.
These South Korean workers came to the US to build an EV battery plant. They left in shackles. They still want to know why
ICE agents raided, arrested workers at a Georgia battery factory in September.
abcnews.go.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The South Korean government might be happy; the companies might be happy; but 5he workers who were detained? Not so much. They're planning on suing but I suspect their companies and government might lean on them not to, so as to not cause difficulty for the orderly conduct of business.
This is a class action suit filed in 2022. The class is roughly 30K detainees who claim they were coerced into working for $1/day. The company has lost in the lower courts and, oddly enough, the Trump Administration is opposing the company's request.
Immigrant detention firm seeks immunity in case before Supreme Court
A lower court denied Geo Group’s claim that it couldn’t be sued for forced-labor allegations at an ICE detention center because it was working for the government.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
This is a class action suit filed in 2022. The class is roughly 30K detainees who claim they were coerced into working for $1/day. The company has lost in the lower courts and, oddly enough, the Trump Administration is opposing the company's request.
Trump recommending a $10,000 bonus to any air traffic controllers who didn't take time off during the government shutdown - and of course, threatening anybody who takes a sick day.
November 10, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Trump recommending a $10,000 bonus to any air traffic controllers who didn't take time off during the government shutdown - and of course, threatening anybody who takes a sick day.
Justice has a distinctly liberal bias, retribution has a similar conservative one.
Justice Department struggles as thousands exit — and few are replaced
The Justice Department has lost thousands of experienced attorneys and backfilled a fraction of the open jobs, in part because of a lack of qualified candidates.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Justice has a distinctly liberal bias, retribution has a similar conservative one.
When you sleep with 4 dogs & blame claw marks on demons instead of them, 2 things are possible.
1. You’re doing a bit to see how dumb your audience is for fun.
2. You have a mental disorder that doesn’t allow you to see what’s obvious to everyone else in the world.
1. You’re doing a bit to see how dumb your audience is for fun.
2. You have a mental disorder that doesn’t allow you to see what’s obvious to everyone else in the world.
November 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM
When you sleep with 4 dogs & blame claw marks on demons instead of them, 2 things are possible.
1. You’re doing a bit to see how dumb your audience is for fun.
2. You have a mental disorder that doesn’t allow you to see what’s obvious to everyone else in the world.
1. You’re doing a bit to see how dumb your audience is for fun.
2. You have a mental disorder that doesn’t allow you to see what’s obvious to everyone else in the world.
More than a quarter of Chinese listed companies posted a loss in the first half of this year.
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November 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
More than a quarter of Chinese listed companies posted a loss in the first half of this year.
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Good read about built data centers that are sitting there empty because they can't get access to power.
There are developers that build data centers on spec, just as there are in every other area of real estate. Those are the ones having the most trouble connecting to the grid.
There are developers that build data centers on spec, just as there are in every other area of real estate. Those are the ones having the most trouble connecting to the grid.
November 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Good read about built data centers that are sitting there empty because they can't get access to power.
There are developers that build data centers on spec, just as there are in every other area of real estate. Those are the ones having the most trouble connecting to the grid.
There are developers that build data centers on spec, just as there are in every other area of real estate. Those are the ones having the most trouble connecting to the grid.
Meanwhile, in the dead of night....
BREAKING
President Trump has granted a pardon to a slew of Trump world figures, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and Sidney Powell, for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
President Trump has granted a pardon to a slew of Trump world figures, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and Sidney Powell, for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
November 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Meanwhile, in the dead of night....
President Trump just announced the "tariff dividend," a payment of 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 $2K per American.
This is supposed to be paid to 85%+ of US adults, resulting in >$400B handed out.
All as US debt nears $40T.
(BTW, "debt out the wazoo" is a financial term for what we're going to get out of this.)
This is supposed to be paid to 85%+ of US adults, resulting in >$400B handed out.
All as US debt nears $40T.
(BTW, "debt out the wazoo" is a financial term for what we're going to get out of this.)
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
President Trump just announced the "tariff dividend," a payment of 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 $2K per American.
This is supposed to be paid to 85%+ of US adults, resulting in >$400B handed out.
All as US debt nears $40T.
(BTW, "debt out the wazoo" is a financial term for what we're going to get out of this.)
This is supposed to be paid to 85%+ of US adults, resulting in >$400B handed out.
All as US debt nears $40T.
(BTW, "debt out the wazoo" is a financial term for what we're going to get out of this.)
Filtering in the housing market is real. Build lots of 'luxury' apartments and the older apartments mysteriously start getting cheaper.
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November 10, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Filtering in the housing market is real. Build lots of 'luxury' apartments and the older apartments mysteriously start getting cheaper.
🧵
🧵
Not actually a surprise. This is what happens when order breaks down in an army. That can easily happen when the situation is ambiguous, where it's hard to tell who the enemy is, and where there's tacit permission from higher up, in this case, from Israel's political leadership.
November 10, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Not actually a surprise. This is what happens when order breaks down in an army. That can easily happen when the situation is ambiguous, where it's hard to tell who the enemy is, and where there's tacit permission from higher up, in this case, from Israel's political leadership.
This seems kind of silly. Unless they start locking judges up, they're going to lose, and I don't think they're ready to do that - at least not yet.
Deputy AG declares "war" on judges, vows to strip bar associations' power
The statements are the latest escalation in the DOJ's comments about judges.
www.axios.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
This seems kind of silly. Unless they start locking judges up, they're going to lose, and I don't think they're ready to do that - at least not yet.
It's never snowed in Toronto before today?
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 AM
It's never snowed in Toronto before today?
Trump just got loudly booed at the Commanders game.
The best part, though, is where he says "I, state your name". 🤣🤣🤣
The best part, though, is where he says "I, state your name". 🤣🤣🤣
November 10, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Trump just got loudly booed at the Commanders game.
The best part, though, is where he says "I, state your name". 🤣🤣🤣
The best part, though, is where he says "I, state your name". 🤣🤣🤣
Alex absolutely nails this. The economic effect of this would be no different than that of Mamdami's rent freeze on rent stabilized apartments. Or of NIMBYs everywhere fighting against higher density housing in their neighborhoods.
November 10, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Alex absolutely nails this. The economic effect of this would be no different than that of Mamdami's rent freeze on rent stabilized apartments. Or of NIMBYs everywhere fighting against higher density housing in their neighborhoods.
Who kidnapped the real Thomas Massie and where have they put him?
November 9, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Who kidnapped the real Thomas Massie and where have they put him?
I hate to hand it to Richard Hanania, but he's completely correct that the Right's biggest problem is a human capital problem, a/k/a they're just all very stupid.
November 9, 2025 at 11:28 PM
I hate to hand it to Richard Hanania, but he's completely correct that the Right's biggest problem is a human capital problem, a/k/a they're just all very stupid.
Would Jesus set up 40,000,000 people to starve?
November 9, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Would Jesus set up 40,000,000 people to starve?
Illinois: $1 billion in battery investment will save consumers $13 billion in capacity costs over 20 years. As capacity costs rise while battery costs plummet, we will see more of this.
Illinois to add 3 GW of batteries, saving consumers $12 billion over 20 years
Illinois is set to issue procurements for 3 GW of battery storage, under a bill expected to be signed by Governor JB Pritzker. Transmission improvements to speed renewable deployment are also in the w...
pv-magazine-usa.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Illinois: $1 billion in battery investment will save consumers $13 billion in capacity costs over 20 years. As capacity costs rise while battery costs plummet, we will see more of this.
Quiet part out loud.
November 9, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Quiet part out loud.
How it started (Phil really is an economic historian, with a PhD to prove it).
November 9, 2025 at 4:33 PM
How it started (Phil really is an economic historian, with a PhD to prove it).
Jack's thesis is pretty simple: AI is already impacting labor markets not by replacing workers, but by disrupting traditional signalling mechanisms, leading to increasing search-and-match frictions for recent graduates with smaller networks and limited work experience.
November 9, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Jack's thesis is pretty simple: AI is already impacting labor markets not by replacing workers, but by disrupting traditional signalling mechanisms, leading to increasing search-and-match frictions for recent graduates with smaller networks and limited work experience.
Republicans should definitely have their health care plan written by a guy who was CEO of a healthcare company that received 14 felony convictions and a $1.7 billion fine for defrauding Medicare.
November 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Republicans should definitely have their health care plan written by a guy who was CEO of a healthcare company that received 14 felony convictions and a $1.7 billion fine for defrauding Medicare.